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Editorial: Petty cancelation of workshop shows school’s lack of care for students

Neil Gagna
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Editorial: Petty cancelation of workshop shows school’s lack of care for students

An incident at a domestic violence awareness workshop has recently highlighted LBCC’s disregard for student press rights.

A reporter for the Viking News attended this workshop and after a few minutes, with students in attendance, a speaker from Planned Parenthood canceled the event, saying she was “not in a good mood.”

While it was not an LBCC employee this time, the behavior exhibited by this speaker has been an ongoing issue for The Viking.

It is ridiculous that the college is so afraid of its student press that it allows guests on campus to cancel events to prevent student reporters from things that are considered sensitive topics.

The college needs to ensure that its employees are properly media trained and know that telling student reporters they cannot cover public events that are open to everyone on a public campus is a violation of their constitutional rights.

That the threat of a student reporter covering a workshop was enough for a Planned Parenthood employee to cancel and reschedule an event that people were already in attendance for is absurd.

Canceling an event after it began and attendees were already seated wastes their time and takes away their opportunity to engage with the topic at hand.

Not only that, this type of behavior infantilizes students and assumes that anyone who has a problem with The Viking’s presence is unable to speak for themselves.

None of the eight students present at the event raised concern over the reporter, it was only the presenter herself who was unhappy with the Viking covering the event.

One attendee even told the Viking that the Planned Parenthood speaker “needs to be a fucking adult.”

College employees must ensure that any guest speakers are aware that they cannot prohibit student press from covering events, regardless of the sensitivity of the topic at hand.

Event coordinators on campus such as Derek Oiree and Joseph Polanco have attempted to turn away student reporters before, only to back down once the Viking’s advisor, Walter Hammerwold, spoke with them.

Reporters have been frequently told that these events are meant to be “safe spaces” for students to share their experiences and emotions without judgment, but that idea stands in direct contradiction with the way these events are held.

While some may raise concern over The Viking reporting on conversations that may be considered personal or sensitive, it is important to remember that reporters are attempting to raise awareness of different resources available on campus.

This idea that reporters are attending these workshops in order to expose the personal lives of students or cause harm needs to stop.

By hosting these workshops and conversations on a public campus, using public funding, the college must understand that it is illegal to block anyone, including student-press, from attending the event as long as they are not being disruptive.

This has not been the first time student reporters have been turned away from events, despite the illegality of telling reporters they cannot cover an event that has been marketed as open to the public.

It seems that many employees of this college believe that “open to everyone” does not include the press. 

The college needs to make changes to the way employees are trained to deal with the student press, before they open themselves up to potential lawsuits for continuously violating press rights on its campuses.

Domestic violence workshop canceled over organizer’s discontent with press

Ryenne Jolliff
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Domestic violence workshop canceled over organizer’s discontent with press

Correction: Changes have been made to clarify quotes published by the Viking.

A Planned Parenthood representative canceled LBCC’s domestic violence workshop due to the presence of a Viking News reporter on Wednesday. 

Emma Lloyd, an LBCC journalism student and staff writer for the Viking News, was trying to cover the workshop for a class assignment. 

The event, which was supposed to be held in the Black Student Success Center, was open to the public and all information was available on the LBCC website.

Mari Santoyo, a student at the event, expressed her frustration over the representative’s choice to cancel the presentation.

“Honestly, it’s selfish and ridiculous,” Santoyo said about the Planned Parenthood representatives decision to cancel the event. “Be a fucking adult.”

The Planned Parenthood representative who spoke at the workshop told Lloyd she was not allowed to shoot photos, mention Planned Parenthood, or get interviews from the event. 

“I’m really upset. I feel sorry for the people who were there. Honestly that woman needs to get some help,” Santoyo said. “There’s no way she should’ve stopped a domestic violence workshop because of her mood and her stance on the press.”

Erainia Freeman, the dean of student support services, was called in by the Black Student Success Center success coach Jordan Hands.

Walter Hammerwold, the Viking News advisor, was called and had an animated phone conversation with both Hands and Freeman. 

The Viking reached out to Hammerwold, but he declined to comment.

After the phone call between Hammerwold, Hands, and Freeman ended, Lloyd went to the event and shot photos with Hammerwold’s permission. 

After the Viking began taking photos of the event, the Planned Parenthood representative paused the workshop to take a 10 minute intermission. 

“There were so many disruptions,” the Planned Parenthood representative said while looking at Lloyd.

After the workshop reconvened, the representative decided to cancel the event altogether. 

“We’re going to decide to cancel the event and reschedule it because I’m just in a really bad mood now and I think I should be in a good mood to give this presentation,” the Planned Parenthood representative said.

“I wanted to learn about domestic violence and how I could help others,” said Christian Grant, another LBCC student who attended the workshop.

Although Grant was disappointed about the workshop cancellation, he was understanding about the decision. 

“I think having a reporter come and take photos and get interviews while talking about domestic violence can make people feel uncomfortable and judged. I totally understand why they were hesitant,” Grant said.

Joseph Polanco, the Healthy Viking Initiative activities coordinator, was unaware of what occurred at the workshop.

Polanco expressed that had he been at the event, he would have spoken to the representative to ensure the Viking could cover the event.

“It wouldn’t have happened if I had been there,” Polanco said about the incident.  

Viking News has encountered a number of incidents where Polanco attempted to turn students away and told them not to take pictures.

Cain Carbajal, co-editor in chief of the Viking News, said this is not the first time student reporters have been turned away from on-campus events. 

“It’s ridiculous that the school keeps doing this and it’s taking away from students’ learning opportunities,” Carbajal said. 

The Viking News is waiting on a statement from Freeman.

Associate Director of Communications and Community Engagement Stacey Toda did not immediately respond to the Vikings phone call and was in a meeting when she was reached out to for comment.

Superintendent-President Mike Munoz was not immediately available for comment.

“Music breaks down all barriers” LBCC jazz combos perform at DiPiazza’s

Samantha Navarro
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“Music breaks down all barriers” LBCC jazz combos perform at DiPiazza’s

Jazz tunes new and old took hold of DiPiazza’s on Thursday night as a part of Long Beach City College’s jazz combos’ second performance of the semester. 

Every month, Long Beach City College music professor Patrick (Pat) Sheng hosts a jazz night where his music combo students can show off their talents in front of a live audience at the local venue DiPiazza’s. 

The first combo of the night, “Amber and the Pink Ponies,” presented Amber Cabello Perez on electric guitar, Eric Brounstein on alto saxophone, Dean Williams on keyboard, and Omarii Johnson on drums. 

Although they were the first performers of the night, Brounstein’s smooth saxophone and Johnson’s heavy drum fills set a confident tone for the night. 

Each of the jazz combos displayed a wide range of ages, styles and talents of their musicians.

“I like to say that music breaks down all barriers for politics, age, and race. It’s all about what and how you play,” Brounstein, who’s been in jazz combos for seven semesters, said. 

Those attending the Jazz night kept their energy up for the second combo.

“The Honeypack,” composed of Jacob Kosberg on bass, Millie Reynolds on electric guitar, Danny Kiledjian on keyboard, and Daniel Garibay on drums, was another key example of the scope of ages and talents that engage in jazz nights. 

Millie Reynolds played electric guitar while dressed as a vampire for the second jazz combo, The Honeypack. The combo played the well-known jazz standard, “Beautiful Love” by Bill Evans. (Samantha Navarro)

“We didn’t get to pick the songs this time around, but we will next time. Pat assigns the songs based on skill level,” Brounstein said. 

The third combo, “Wildlife Expedition,” began their set with the classic jazz song “All of Me.” 

“Wildlife Expedition” featured singer Earnest Kemeny, guitarist Tamara Rodriguez, drummer Allen Johnston, xylophonist Wren Ablaza, and bassist Alison Lewis. 

Kemeny has been singing for years and started jazz combos in the fall of 2018. 

Pat Sheng made this jazz night a Halloween costume contest, so Kemeny was dressed as a sailor and Lewis as a witch. 

LBCC student, Alison Lewis played bass for the jazz combo, “Wildlife Expedition” dressed as a witch for the Halloween costume contest. Lewis said the most valuable thought to have in mind while performing was, “To just stay present.” (Samantha Navarro)

Kemeny held a quiet authority on stage and captivated the audience with his vibrato and call-and-response sections. 

Lewis, a former middle-school teacher turned bassist, smiled to herself through the set and gained more confidence as time went on. 

“I played bass in 1979 for a new wave punk band, then became a middle school teacher for 33 years. Jazz is a whole different language,” Lewis said. 

Because Sheng picks the combo groups, students get the chance to grow closer with their combos as the semester progresses. 

“For two days out of the week (the combos) are completely alone, one of those days is spent in a tiny practice room. Everyone has been really nice and encouraging,” said Lewis. 

Throughout all of the combos, one sentiment was shared: Pat Sheng deserves high praise for the work he does with the combo students. 

“I haven’t performed before. I probably wouldn’t do anything like this without the class,” Williams, who plays the keyboard for “Amber and the Pink Ponies” said. 

Students will stay with their combos for the rest of the semester and will perform again at DiPiazza’s on Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

Open house promotes student services

Isabel Murty
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Open house promotes student services

LBCC’s Transfer Center hosted an open house on Oct. 1, which included music, food, and activities that allowed students to explore the new facility after their move to the B Building. 

Students were able to look around the new facility since the recent move from the E Building, which is now closed down and is set to be demolished and replaced by 2027. 

Returning students who were able to experience the old student union are still satisfied with the amenities offered and some staff even see it as an upgrade from what was previously there. 

James Ceja, a First Year Experience program counselor and outreach specialist who works out of the new SJIC located on the second floor of the B Building is optimistic that the move will allow more students to access some of the resources offered. 

The Social Justice Intercultural Center was previously located in an underground basement and it was hard for certain students to access. Now, banners located on the second story of the B Building clearly show where they operate. 

“There’s a lot more visibility to our center now,” Ceja said, “in terms of the SJIC, we’ve noticed more traffic in the events we can host now.” 

The SJIC has also been used as a location for presentations and workshops that can help enrich the academic and personal lives of students. 

Sirena Sen, a third year studio art major, uses the student union on the ground floor to socialize with peers and to study. She also appreciated how close all the facilities and organizations became after the move. 

“It’s very convenient and helpful to students,” Sen said. “Students can gain a sense of community and student life.” 

Communal areas for students have been proven to boost campus life and serve as a place for students to come to navigate life in college according to Sen. 

“This is a really good outlet for first years who are feeling lost,” Sen said. “This place is a great place to talk to people and get resources you need in life.” 

Asesel Carranza, a first year student is satisfied with the new facility and the social life that comes along with it. He joined the student union to make new like minded friends on campus. 

“I’ve made a few friends who I do homework with here,” Carranza said. “There’s few places to get plugged in on campus so I am glad this is available for us.” 

Opinion: Students need more cash options on campus

Sam Villa
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Opinion: Students need more cash options on campus

The Mobile Food truck at LAC only accepts mobile payments and cards but should allow students to use cash for those that don’t carry cards or have access to a bank account

This leaves students who wish or are restricted to only carry cash with no other option but to go somewhere else to buy food.

The college aims to provide inclusivity to all students but does not provide an option for students who don’t have or want to use their bank accounts. 

Some students work jobs that are only paid in cash or rely on tips for their main source of income.

Various people on campus don’t prefer to use their cards or don’t wish to carry them due to security reasons such as theft or cyber attacks.

The campus offers several services for students including housing assistance, physical and mental healthcare, but limits the options for students who want food and only carry cash. 

Most of the population on the campus are students who use financial aid, some of which have just graduated high school with no job and therefore have not created their own bank accounts.

Other factors such as high and unpredictable fees, lack of access to a nearby bank, or simply not having enough money prevent students from being able to open an account.

Going cashless may seem more convenient however there are several negative effects of relying on technology for finances. 

Technology is not always the most reliable and can experience issues such as system malfunctions and having to shut down or reboot the system causing a wait time to be able to pay for food. 

This can also lead to cyber attacks which leave data such as bank information and addresses vulnerable to being used for identity theft and even more severe crimes. 

The mobile food truck going cashless creates more exclusivity to the campus which goes against the school’s role of being “supportive and inclusive” as stated on the school website. 

The truck has never accepted cash, “It was the school’s decision and we had no say in the matter,” said Timothy Chin, who works in the mobile kitchen.  

 Students and staff should be able to contribute to making decisions such as going cashless to create an environment where all students feel heard and comfortable.

LBCC program offers yoga teaching certification

Ryenne Jolliff
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LBCC program offers yoga teaching certification

Long Beach City College is now offering a yoga teacher training program to aid student mental health and employment opportunities. 

The program is “an in-depth journey into the fundamentals of teaching yoga, designed to empower students,” Rick Anderson, who teaches the program at LBCC, said.

It became available in January 2024, and has 18 students enrolled with 16 set to graduate in the spring according to Anderson.

Dario Guerrero, a student in the program, fell in love with yoga after an injury last year.

“I was messing around on a skateboard and broke my leg. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I saw that LBCC was offering yoga for the summer and I loved it,” Guerrero said. 

“Yoga is more than just a workout,” said Guerrero. “It is a philosophy and a system of life. It goes beyond just breaking a sweat. You become a better person.”

This notion of yoga improving students’ lives is exactly why Anderson pushed so hard for this program. 

“There was a big demand for this, not just with students but with administration too,” said Anderson. “The program will create jobs and better student’s mental health”. 

Not only does yoga aid students with their well-being, the yoga teacher training program offers employment opportunities as well. 

“When Rick approached me about the yoga teacher training program, I saw that the demand for yoga was growing. It was helping students with their mental and emotional health. I said ‘Let’s go for it,’” said Grace Pokorny, Department Head for health science and health education at LBCC. 

The yoga teaching training program is designed to be accessible to those interested. 

“In two semesters and 16 units, you can be certified to be a yoga teacher. It’s open to anybody. Rather than paying 3,000 dollars somewhere else, you’re just paying for 16 units here,” Anderson said. 

The road to becoming a yoga teacher becomes much simpler after completing the program. 

“You can get certified here, register with Yoga Alliance, and go straight into a job at the YMCA, a gym, or a yoga studio,” Anderson said. 

The yoga teacher training program, and those similar, creates opportunities for students they otherwise would not have. 

“It wasn’t something I knew about before. I can see myself teaching yoga now,” said Guerrero.

LBCC volunteer program takes part in 30-minute beach clean up

Isabel Murty
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LBCC volunteer program takes part in 30-minute beach clean up

A group of volunteers gathered at Rosie’s Dog Beach on the morning of Sept. 21 to participate in the 30-Minute Beach Cleanup, an event dedicated to preserving local marine life. 

The event coincided with California Coastal Cleanup Day, the largest annual volunteer event in the state. 

Organized by Justin Rudd, this community effort began when he noticed trash while teaching beach classes. 

Rudd’s frustration with the city’s slow response led him to take matters into his own hands. 

What started as a simple request for his students to help pick up trash after class has grown into a large-scale event. 

“I asked them to stay for 30 minutes after class and bring a friend the next month,” Rudd said. 

From there, the 30-Minute Beach Cleanup became a recurring event that drew hundreds of volunteers.

One unique feature of this event is its straightforward approach. Volunteers are provided with refreshments, gloves, trash bags, at tables set up on the beach. 

Stephanie Stanton picks up a bottle cap during a cleanup. (Bella Schultz)

“We keep it simple,” Rudd said. “It’s an easy way for people to get involved without a big time commitment.”

The cleanup targets trash along a one-mile stretch of Long Beach, which Rudd says is the cleanest section of the city’s coastline. 

However, the bigger issue lies upstream.

“Most of the trash comes down from the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers,” Rudd said.

The challenge is educating upstream residents to prevent litter from reaching the beach.

Rudd emphasized that the cleanup isn’t just for people but also for the animals and marine life that call the beach home.

As young volunteers join in, Rudd hopes they will leave with a newfound sense of ownership over the environment. 

“We get a lot of middle and high school students,” Rudd said. “I hope they learn that this beach is public property, and we all have a responsibility to take care of it.”

The event draws a variety of participants, from students earning volunteer hours to families looking for a way to give back.

“It’s not just about picking up trash,” Rudd said. “It’s about coming together as a community to protect the beach we all enjoy.”

Zoe, a student participant, was grateful for the opportunity to take care of the beach.

“It was close to home, and we get extra credit. It’s a reminder that we have to be accountable for the things that we do,” Zoe said. 

Vinnie, another volunteer, shared the benefits of attending these community events. 

 “It’s nice to see fellow classmates and rekindle lost friendships while working together,” Vinnie said. 

Even with the ongoing issue of trash from upstream, Rudd remains optimistic about the local impact. 

“If each person picks up just one piece of trash, it adds up,” he said. 

His hope is that the cleanup inspires people to continue these small acts of care for the environment.

Eli Birsken, an LBCC student, is already putting Rudd’s message into practice. 

“I’ve noticed little pieces of trash that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise when I’m here enjoying the beach,” Birsken said.  

Rudd is also excited to see the support from local businesses that contribute to the event. 

“Some shops donate snacks or prizes for our volunteers, showing how the community comes together,” he said, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the cleanup.

As the event continues to grow, Rudd is encouraged by the volunteers who return month after month. 

“We’ve been doing this for 25 years, and it’s amazing to see how much people care,” Rudd said. 

For Rudd, the beach is a shared space, and events like this remind everyone of their role in keeping it clean. 

“It’s our beach, and it’s our job to take care of it,” Rudd said. 

The next cleanup is scheduled for the first Saturday of the month, welcoming anyone willing to lend a hand. 

The Israel/Palestine conflict explained

Ryenne Jolliff
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The Israel/Palestine conflict explained

Despite college protests being a major focus of national headlines, many students are still unaware of what exactly is going on in the Israel/Gaza conflict.

Many protests broke out at colleges across the nation this past spring semester, with protestors calling for schools to divest from companies that they claim fund Israel and their war in Palestine. 

Many had encampments created on campuses where Palestinian supporters refused to leave and police were called to break up these groups on both USC and UCLA campuses.

In the case of the UCLA protest, violence even broke out between pro-Palestine protestors and pro-Israeli counter-protestors.

“I think the immediate Israeli-Hamas debate got pushed to the side with the protests and the reactions to the protests and the violence that ensued with campuses across the country,” LBCC Co-Department Head of history, political science, and ethnic studies Paul Savoie said. “I think it became a separate very domestic issue.”

The deadliest attack in Israel’s history has sparked a major war between Israel and Palestinian militant political group Hamas.

Hamas carried out the attack on Oct. 7, 2023 when it ambushed an Israeli open music festival among other locations in Israel leaving over 1,100 Israelis dead and around 250 hostages taken by Hamas.

Israel has responded with an assault that has not ceased for nearly a year in the Gaza Strip, the smaller of the two Palestinian territories that, along with the West Bank, make up the region of Palestine.

As of Oct. 6, the current death toll of the war stands with at least 41,870 Palestinians dead and 1,139 Israelis per news organization Al Jazeera. 

Hamas is a militant political group that governs Gaza and has violently rejected Israel’s existence and claimed it is merely occupying the country of Palestine since its inception. 

Hamas took power of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after a violent altercation with rival political party Fatah, who took control of the West Bank. 

The conflict started during World War I when Great Britain promised both Palestinian Arabs in the area and Jewish nationalists across Europe the right to a portion of land that was controlled by the Ottoman Empire, who had sided against Great Britain in the war.

“The conflict originally stems back many years and it comes from the fact of fighting over land in terms of what was promised versus what was not necessarily given,” LBCC political science professor Jerome Hunt said. 

“There has been a lack of willingness from both sides to find a common ground and also there hasn’t been a strong international presence to ensure a compromise be reached,” Hunt said.

A member of the Palestinian Liberation movement speaks to a crowd of protesters in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. The organization works with college students across the nation to hold demonstrations. (Cain Carbajal)

The Ottoman Empire lasted from 1299 to 1922 and although it was a primarily Muslim nation, it also contained many Christians and Jews in the empire who lived relatively peacefully.

“It’s not really rooted in religion. It’s about competing claims of territory, they were both promised something and betrayed. I do think religion is manipulated and utilized to galvanize different movements for sure but this isn’t just about religion,” world history professor Mary Marki said.

Most recently in the conflict, Israel has mobilized forces and attacks in Lebanon to fight Hezbollah, another rival militant group in the area. Over the weekend of Sept. 28-29, they killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah have been deemed terrorist organizations and have been allied and funded by regional ally Iran.

On Tuesday, Iran retaliated to the attacks on their allied groups by sending a wave of ballistic missiles at Israel, many of which were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems.

Israel has lifted restrictions on citizens gathering in major cities, signaling that another wave of missiles are not expected.

“If history tells us anything, the situation in the Middle East is always a powder keg and it always risks dragging other countries into the conflict,” Savoie said.

Though their war is on violent militant groups in the region, Israel continues to receive criticism for their haphazard bombings and attacks leaving many civilians who had nothing to do with Hamas or Hezbollah dead.

This, paired with their blockades restricting basic needs such as food, water and electricity from getting to the people in Gaza, has turned many people against Israel and toward supporting an immediate ceasefire.

At Long Beach City College, a small group of protestors have shown up to multiple Board of Trustees meetings and made public displays of their displeasure of the school’s investment in BlackRock, an investment company with investments in defense contractors that sell weapons to Israel such as RTX and L3Harris Technologies.

Vikings sweep Seagulls in 13th consecutive victory

Kameron Hendricks
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Vikings sweep Seagulls in 13th consecutive victory

LBCC swept LA Harbor 3-0 with sophomore middle blocker Jubilee Allen landing the final winning point, bringing the women’s volleyball team to a 13-game winning streak this season. 

Despite the Seagulls landing a point within the first few minutes, LBCC’s team kept their cool and quickly bounced back with a point of their own, sustaining vigor throughout the match. 

During the second round, LAHC adopted an aggressive play securing a string of points but were thwarted by LBCC who re-assumed dominance over the round. 

The scores for each round were 25-11, 25-14, 25-12, with LAHC never eclipsing halfway to the 25-point mark.

Right-side Opposite hitter Enaya Vaielua said that the team still has some stuff to work on for the next game. 

“I say not getting in our heads as much, we were messing up but it was silly mistakes that we were doing. After we mess up we would worry about that play before, so we just have to stop doing that and we’ll be good,” Vaielua said.

When LAHC did bring their A-game it brought a lengthy and tense back and forth between the two teams. 

More than once the play was brought to the net as both teams scrambled around trying to assert control of the ball. 

Last season LBCC’s team had started strong but their winning streak was interrupted by the 13th game. 

When asked what had changed since then, Director of Volleyball Operations Tyler Jackson credited depth and program growth. 

“A lot has changed, we have some injuries now but we have such a deep bench that it doesn’t really feel like it or seem like it. Last year we had some injuries around the same time but we didn’t have a strong second string coming in,” Jackson said, “We have an amazing coach too, we have coach Josh [Nehls] on the men’s side he’s been helping us out as well. We have a few of our Alum on our staff. So overall we’re just more complete as a program.”

Alanna Jones, one of the injured players, has scored 10 points in total while serving. With a total of 72.5 points despite having to sit out the first two games of this season. 

When Jones was asked what the most difficult part of the game was, she answered that it was keeping a top player’s state of mind.

“For our team, it was making sure we played a top three team in the state, making sure we played at our best. Even though it was not the hardest team we’ve faced, it was making sure that we stood as a program on top and acted like it,” Jones said. 

LBCC’s women’s volleyball team’s next match is a home game against El Camino on October, 9th at 6 p.m. 

LBCC’s new esports arena

Heaven Herrera
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LBCC’s new esports arena

By: Ryan Hixson

Nervous energy buzzed around LBCC’s new high-tech esports arena in M-224 on Thursday as the team planned to host its first tournament of the season there.

The arena also doubles as a training area for the esports team, with a screen that allows users to view any player’s screen anytime, anywhere in the room.

Within the area, there is also a state-of-the-art casting room, allowing commentators to easily view the game live and quickly switch points to catch essential plays.

The impressive setup uses a proprietary mixture of hardware and software designed specifically for the esports team.

Coach Gabe Giangualano also believes the arena can open avenues outside of esports: “My hope is for this setup to show what’s possible for other departments as well. I want this to benefit media, broadcasting, whatever other programs that could use this tech,” Gianguialano said.

Giangualano formerly ran esports at St. John Bosco High School four years ago and helped build it into a full-time program that won four national championships.

Cesar Hernandez, a networking major who joined the team after being interested in the hardware, said, “I used to work here at LBCC, and when I heard about the new building being built, I knew I had to get involved in the esports program in any way I could.”

“We have a great set of resources here, and I’m hoping to use them to find my path in life,” Hernandez said about his goals in the esports program.

LBCC’s esports program is uncommon because it is officially affiliated with the school, which allows for more support from the school itself, which was a big help in creating the new arena.

The team is preparing for the upcoming Grim Cup tournament, which will be held on October 26th and 27th and will feature matches for Valorant, Rocket League, League of Legends, and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate.

“This season, we have some new games. We’ve added Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Smash Bros. We used to have Rainbow Six: Siege, but that fell off the collegiate scene,” Coach Giangualano said 

One student, Brandon Walker, who has been with Coach Giangualano since St. John Bosco, spoke about setting up the tournament.

 “We’re working on scheduling, ensuring we can fit all the games into a decent time,” Walker said.

Walker, one of the Valorant players on the team, has been playing the game since its release four years ago and wants to encourage more players to try out for the team.

“We’re always looking for people to join. We have more opportunities than players and are always willing to set up tryouts for new people trying to get on the team,” Walker said.

The new LBCC esports arena is open for sign-ups, which can be found on the esports page on the LBCC website at https://www.lbcc.edu/esports

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