Tuesday morning Long Beach City College held a Khmer New Year celebration on the Pacific Coast Campus including performances and an educational piece through Modern Apsara dance group.
The morning of the event, LBCC sent out an email with the flier to the event posted.
Nearly fifty students and faculty attendees filled the room enjoying the complimentary hot coffee and donuts provided by La Lune Cambodian donuts.
The event began with a few statements and an introduction to Modern Apsara dance group from student success coach and advisor, Alex Luong.
“Modern Apsara dance company bridges the modern world to the secret artform of Cambodian classical dance which is over 1,000 years old,” said Mea Lath, founder and artistic director of Modern Apsara dance company.
After the performances attendees were asked to join in on a dance including a small educational background on the different hand and arm movements seen in traditional Cambodian dancing.
Lath demonstrated and elaborated on the meaning of the different hand movements as participants followed along.
Kerry Chhay, a LBCC alumini participates in the interactive dance presentation at Khmer New Year celebration held Tuesday morning on PCC. (Andrea Lawrence)
By the end of the demonstration, attendees danced from their seats to traditional Cambodian tunes.
“It’s nice to see other cultures want to get involved and interact with Cambodian culture,” said second generation and LBCC student, Risa Sadao.
Victoria Ung, classical Cambodian dancer from Modern Apsara Company performs at Khmer New Year celebration held at PCC Tuesday morning. (Andrea Lawrence)
Dance performance by Victoria Ung included a scarf that was tossed in all four directions symbolizing blessings for everyone in all four directions.
The whole event was an hour long and as attendees began to pack up, Luong offered more coffee and donuts.
Khmer new year will continue to be celebrated all throughout the month of April.
Anthropology students gain a passion for respecting the land they research on as they listened to indigenous archeologist Desireé Reneé Martinez talk about the parts of indigenous archeology on Mar. 22.
The presentation spoke on deconstructing what students knew about traditional archeology, teaching them new methods on how to respect the tribes who still live on California lands, specifically those of the Gabrielino Tongva Nation.
“This presentation was so important and a way for us to spread awareness and to gain more knowledge about the other people who live on this earth with us,” said Anthropology Club President Karla Ramirez.
“We’ve had a diverse amount of topics in this club, talking about greener aspects of anthropology, but also getting local perspectives and what within our community we can learn and preserve our culture here,” said club member Devon Ingram.
The Gabrielino Tongva Nation has lived in what’s known as the Greater Los Angeles Basin, since before documentation, but is still not recognized as a tribe by the federal government.
“The biggest thing is indigenous people still exist all over the United States, we are the one percent of the one percent, the Gabrielino Tongva tribe,” said Martinez.
Martinez explained the ways anthropology students and those outside of the subject can better educate themselves and help the natives around their own local, as the tribe does not own any land federally.
“We actually were in contact with Long Beach City College in planting some of the plants that are needed, and some institutions are helping as well,” said Martinez
While most children learn the three R’s of reduce, reuse, and recycle, Martinez taught the students what it means to the tribe instead to respect, recognize, and have responsibility.
“One of our main goals as a club is to better understand not just the world around us but each other, respect,” said Ramirez
These steps were brought along with the eight portions of the indigenous archeology statements Martinez presented.
“So you recognize that the indigenous people were here and are still here, and you respect that connection, and now it’s your responsibility to do what you can to keep those connections not severed,” said Martinez.
A recurring workshop on campus focuses on self-compassion and provides a safe space for students to freely discuss their emotions.
It’s an environment where they can learn to express themselves without fear of judgment.
Brianna Reyes, a licensed mental health clinician at LBCC, is one of the hosts of the mental health workshop.
Licensed clinical social worker and mental health therapist, Daisy Cook also works in the Students Health Services Department and co-hosts the workshop with Reyes.
At the beginning of the workshop, Reyes went over the guidelines and what was expected of every participant.
Both presenters wanted to create a safe and private space for everyone to share their thoughts by reminding everyone to be respectful of others.
Cook and Reyes wanted to be mindful of allowing everyone the opportunity to speak and encouraged everyone to participate, while keeping in mind that everyone will have different views and questions about the workshop.
This is a great workshop for students who are having a hard time expressing themselves and showing themselves compassion.
“We are here to support each other and learn our solutions. Learning will help us grow, and expand our minds and ourselves. It’s helpful to know that our solutions are unique to us. We’re not here to fix anyone because none of us are broken,” Reyes said.
“I was always told that showing emotions and wearing my feelings on my sleeve is a sign of weakness,” said Jamel Welcome, a student who attended the workshop. “So I somewhat grew up with no emotions. It hurt me and so this workshop is helping me to express my emotions.”
“The workshop is helping me to love myself and appreciate myself more. It’s easy not to love yourself and show yourself compassion in this society, so I’m learning how to,” said Alexis Washington, another student who was in attendance.
All students are welcome to attend and participate in the Self-Compassion through mindfulness workshop.
Freshman Robia Garcia launched a single in the fifth inning where the Vikings softball team loaded the bases twice to get a 10-2 win against Compton on Apr. 9.
The Viking were also able to score off a wild pitch, a single by shortstop Xiomei Geluz to make the score 9-2.
The pitching helped the Vikings get the win as freshman Bayleigh Fry would pitch all six innings putting up six strikeouts, one walk and three hits.
“Bayleigh’s been lights out lately. She came, she threw nine innings yesterday, I’m really proud of her for coming back,” Director of Softball Operations Megan Martinez said.
Long Beach City College freshman pitcher Bayleigh Fry releases a pitch in the fifth inning. Fry led the Vikings to a swift 10-2 victory over Compton College on Tuesday, Apr. 9. (Izzy Juarez)
The Vikings were able to start the scoring in the first inning as the team was able to load the bases but were only able to score off a hit by sophomore Alynna Gonzalez to make the score 1-0.
In the second inning the Vikings extended their lead with a double from freshman Anaya Togia to make the score 2-0.
Long Beach City College freshman Anaya Togia swings at a pitch in the second inning. Togia singled in the bottom of the second inning extending the lead over Compton College on Tuesday, Apr. 9. (Izzy Juarez)
First baseman Reena Sena started the third inning for the Vikings off with a solo home run to left field making the score 3-0.
“It was my first of the year and it felt so good, finally I hit it,” Sena said.
Sena’s had a 1-3 hitting performance and now has an overall batting average of .462 for the season.
Compton would not go out quickly as they would get two runs off a single and a double in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 4-2.
The Vikings ended the game in the sixth inning as sophomore Alejandra Mota and sophomore Breanna Lucero hit a triple and double respectively to make the score 10-2.
“I’m always proud of them. We continue to pound the ball and our pitchers continue to pound the zone. We’re just sticking to our game plan, putting the ball in play and playing solid defense,” Martinez said.
With this win the Vikings would extend their conference record to 13-1 and their overall record to 24-7.
Long Beach City College divers Kathleen (Katie) Juarez, Kaelani Roudabush, and Andrew Lambert, who have consistently shown their skill in previous competitions, are state-bound after their performances in the South Coast Conference Dive Championships.
Held on Friday, Apr. 12 at LBCC’s aquatic center, divers from Los Angeles Valley College, Santa Barbara City College, Orange Coast College, Santa Barbara College, Riverside College, Cerritos College, San Diego Mesa College, Palomar, Cuesta, and Ventura College competed in the SCC Dive Championships.
Katie Juarez placed first in the women’s three meter championship event with an overall score of 222.05 and third in the women’s one meter championship event with an overall score of 198.60.
Juarez, who committed to dive at Cal State Bakersfield, touches on her experience with LBCC.
“I will definitely take the camaraderie over with me, I feel like all of us teammates are here to support each other,” Juarez said.
Andrew Lambert finished with an overall score of 158.95 in the men’s one meter championship event placing him third in the event.
Although they will not be advancing to state, Viking divers Dani Sgontz and Ramzi Steenhoek have continued to showcase dedication throughout the season as it is both their first seasons participating in diving events.
Ramzi Steenhoek diving off the board during the championship. Colleges all over California gathered at LBCC for the Socal dive championship on April 12, 2024. (Brianna Apodaca)
Dive coach and LBCC alumni Shane Butler has been integral to providing technical guidance and success to the divers throughout the season.
“I have definitely gotten better at my entries- they have gotten a lot cleaner over the season, and I can see improvement in a lot of the technical things,” Juarez said.
Kaelani Roudabush placed sixth in the women’s one meter event with a total score of 181.65 and eighth overall in the women’s three meter event, delivering a 136.80, earning her a spot in State Championships for both events.
“I rehearse my dives in my head and it helps me to imagine them before going into the water,” Roundabush said about her diving preparation.
State Championships will be held in early May, where the Vikings will compete at Orange Coast College.
A concerning issue in today’s culture is a reduction of interpersonal empathy and ethics.
Society is facing enormous issues as people put their personal interests on top of the well-being of others more and more.
Long Beach City College should take the initiative to address this critical issue by requiring the course “ethics” as part of its general education curriculum.
Education in ethics is essential for developing people’s moral compass and directing their actions in a variety of situations.
All students must take ethics classes, and by doing so, LBCC can provide them with the skills they need to resolve difficult moral problems in both their personal and professional life.
In contrast, schools like California State University, Grand Canyon University, and University of Phoenix have included ethics courses in their general educational programs, with a focus on helping students develop their capacity for moral reasoning and judgment.
LBCC’s decision to make ethics instruction required fits with a larger cultural trend that emphasizes moral behavior and cultivates an environment of responsibility and empathy.
Through the teaching of these ideals in students, LBCC not only equip students to face moral dilemmas, provoke critical thinking but also develops a generation of leaders who put the benefit of the group ahead of personal gain.
LBCC has the power to influence the moral awareness of coming generations, the institution should encourage deeper reflection into the ethical framework of our society while also providing students with practical skills through the integration of ethics education.
This educational institution shapes students’ lives and shapes the consciousness of mankind as a whole by developing a sense of ethical responsibility and we really should consider the following questions: What sort of society do we want to create, and how will ethics affect our future as a society?
Emotional, unexpected, and unforgettable are some of the ways to describe Long Beach City College’s Anna in the Tropics stage debut on Mar. 13.
The original play was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz, and this rendition was directed by Mark Anthony Vallejo.
The story takes place in 1929 Tampa, Florida, and follows tobacco factory workers and a lector reading Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” to the workers and watching as the book mirrors their lives.
During opening night, the crowd was engaged, their emotions were palpable during tense or exciting moments.
Jashon Roberts (left) and Barnabas Long (right) in the dressing room before taking the stage on Mar. 13, 2024, for the opening night of Anna in the Tropics. (Kassie Sainz)
“It’s basically a novela it’s gonna be full of laughter, heartbreak and laughter again. It’s going to be a production you can’t keep your eyes off,” said Noeline Sanches, actor who plays Marela.
The show delved into some mature and sensitive topics, but the director and actors ensured each scene was handled carefully and tastefully.
“I’m excited for the top of Act 2 but scared for my parents to see it. But it’s so beautifully crafted and very tasteful. It’s loving, gentle, and tender, so I’m not worried that people will dislike it; I’m just worried about my parents,” said Barnabas Long, the actor who plays Juan Julian.
Ensemble cast member and actor, Joshua Salas applies makeup before taking the stage on Mar. 13, 2024, for the opening night of Anna in the Tropics. He prepares to play the role of Eliades, a local gamester. (Kassie Sainz)
Nancy Tran and Long, who play Conchita and Juan, had such a captivating presence on stage that they drew in the audience with their onstage chemistry and charm.
“They knocked it out of the park. They should be really proud of themselves. We cried a couple of times, they were just so good,” said audience member, Crystal Arreola-Martinez.
The richness of Cuban culture was greatly emphasized, not only in the story and characters but also in the costumes and the dance numbers.
“There was really amazing chemistry between the actors, and that quiet moment between the young girl and the lector was really sweet,” said Arreola-Martinez, “I think that kind of encompasses the whole show, like the contrast between them and their caring, tender dynamic and ultimately the harshness they both end up experiencing.”
The cast of Anna in the Tropics warming up before their opening night performance on Mar. 13, 2024. (Kassie Sainz)
Megan MacLean was the one who designed the costumes for this production, and Daron Sorg was the costume technician.
The play ran from just before the start of the spring semester, from Mar. 13 through the 17th in the Bob & Barbara Ellis Auditorium.
Actor Barnabas Long preparing to take the stage as Juan Julian in the play Anna in the Tropics on Mar. 13, 2024. (Kassie Sainz)
Actor Joel Rodriquez applies makeup to play Santiago, the owner of a cigar factory, in the play Anna in the Tropics on Mar. 13, 2024. (Kassie Sainz)Ensemble cast member, Risa Sadao doing her makeup before taking the stage on Mar. 13, 2024, for the opening night of Anna in the Tropics. (Kassie Sainz)Actor Joel Rodriquez in the dressing room before the opening night performance of Anna in the Tropics on Mar. 13, 2024. (Kassie Sainz)Actress Nancy Tran having makeup applied to her arms before taking the stage as Conchita in Anna in the Tropics on Mar. 13, 2024. (Kassie Sainz)
With the love of basketball always being a part of her life, LBCC women’s basketball head coach Tay Adams has brought great experience and a “never give up” attitude in her first year coaching the program.
“Our mentality stayed the same from the beginning to the end. We walked in the beginning of the summer saying ‘We’re a state championship team’ whether or not we had all the pieces yet or knew what that was going to look like. We knew that we had a chance and that we deserve to have a chance,” Adams said.
As someone who grew up loving basketball, Tay Adams played the sport from the age of seven up to her final year of high school in 2010 when she graduated from Morningside High School.
As someone who grew up loving basketball, Tay Adams played the sport from the age of seven up to her final year of high school in 2010 when she graduated from Morningside High School. (Brianna Apodaca)
She then transferred to Loyola Marymount University to continue her playing career, but ACL injuries cut her career short, which opened the door to her coaching career by becoming the equipment manager in her final year with the school.
Adams’ head coaching career began once she graduated from Loyola Marymount when she coached kids who were around the ages of six and seven years old.
After spending two and a half years coaching that age group, she got a coaching offer from Lawndale High School and coached its women’s team for 3 seasons from 2014 to 2017
Adams gave Lawndale a sweet taste of victory as she led her squad to its first school league championship in the 2017 season, which was something the school had never done before.
The COVID-19 pandemic put Adams’s coaching career on hold.
Once the courts reopened, she trained as a referee.
Her reffing career opened the door to more networking opportunities to get her name out there for coaching, and she ended up going back to Morningside High School for a year.
After coaching for her former high school, former LBCC basketball head coach Ollie Brent posted that he was hiring for head coach for women’s basketball.
“Many people we know mutually and other coaches that I had either mentored with or played for were recommending me. It feels good to know that people are speaking about you for opportunities that could be great for you, and that’s exactly what happened and it led me right here,” Adams said.
Adams accepted that head coaching offer, making her debut in the 2023-24 season.
As soon as Adams walked through the door, she made an immediate impact on her players, making sure they knew that they were a championship-caliber team.
As soon as Adams walked through the door, she made an immediate impact on her players, making sure they knew that they were a championship-caliber team. (Brianna Apodaca)
In her first year as the LBCC women’s basketball head coach, Adams coached the Vikings to the state championship tournament for the first time since 1992.
This tournament run was the definition of a fairytale story, with #9 seed Vikings upsetting #8 seed Victor Valley in the second round and #1 seed Mt. SAC (whom they lost twice to in the regular season) in the third round to make it past regionals.
Although the Vikings lost to Butte College in the first round of the state championship tournament, they defied all odds stacked against them as LBCC making the state championship was just an afterthought to many people.
With the struggles that Adams faced with her ACL injuries in the past and trying to find a way to stay involved with the game of basketball, her experiences, and underdog mentality sparked motivation for many of her players.
“She showed me and the whole team unconditional support as well as confidence boosters. There are times during the season when you’re not going to be playing your best or maybe you feel you didn’t do your best, but she was there to lift me every game and make sure we always had a ‘next play’ or ‘next game’ mentality,” SCC South Player of the Year, Brillana Boyd said.
The inspiration she gave to her team for the game of basketball, also transitioned into life lessons centered around knowing how to always keep going and never give up.
LBCC women’s basketball coach Tay Adams posing at the Hall of Champions. Coach Tay Adams is a first-year head coach for the women’s basketball team. (Brianna Apodaca)
“She is a big motivator and was always trying to motivate us even when we felt like we couldn’t do something. She always taught me to push through the hardest obstacles even when I’m tired, and that goes with life too. She always tries to motivate you somehow, someway and that’s how she is as a coach. Every coach motivates you, but she was more vocal for sure,” sophomore guard Haily Garcia said.
The influence and motivation that helped light a spark for the team led them to the fairytale run that the Vikings had in regionals, getting two upset victories over higher-seeded teams to reach the state championship tournament before getting knocked out in the first round.
Adams is even hungrier for a state championship following the first-round state tournament loss and is now preparing for an even better season for her squad in hopes of bringing the state championship to Long Beach.
Some students are concerned about the declining state of campus restrooms, in terms of cleanliness and sanitary materials.
Jenna Dava, a Studio Arts major, noticed that not all restrooms received the same level of care and attention.
“I’ve run into not having enough soap. Sometimes there aren’t napkins. This is just in some bathrooms. I’ve noticed there’s a very big difference in certain buildings in which bathrooms are stocked,” said Dava.
Naya Santos, a second semester Philosophy major, while finding the bathrooms relatively clean, recalls a terrifying experience in one particular LAC restroom at the E building.
“The sewage drain that’s in the middle of the restroom…it just puddled up with black water, it’s like it goes through the stall,” said Santo.
Rain Johnson Young, a Theater Arts and Stereo Arts major, shared that he didn’t really pay attention to the condition of the men’s room, yet was irritated that some automatic flushing sensors were too sensitive, stating, “It’s like no matter what I do, I could be as still as possible and it still flushes.”
The District’s custodial lead revealed that deliberate vandalism of the restroom facilities, more specifically intentional clogs, has become so commonplace that custodial staff are often overrun.
Pedro Garcia, Custodial Supervisor I, heads a team of 8 custodial staff on three 8-hour shifts for both LAC and PCC. With a combined count of over 200 restrooms to maintain, it is hard to keep up with demand and try to address general cleanliness.
“We also clean kitchen facilities on-campus in addition to campus restrooms,” said Garcia, “but we get calls to put out fires like deliberate clogs, stemming from tampons to toilet seat covers.”
When asked about the black water coming up from the drain, Garcia acknowledged that it is likely due to an accumulation of sanitary items clogging drainage.
When asked about the automatic flushers, Garcia shared why they were tuned to be sensitive for good reason. In past instances, they found the sensors were blocked with tape, and the toilet accumulates waste from multiple uses without flushing, which leads to a clog.
The unsanitary water overflows to the floor surface, shutting down an entire restroom for hours as custodial staff work to unclog and sanitize the entirety of the room.
While the custodians accepted deliberate clogs as an everyday norm, it’s the more troublesome severe clogs that can shut down an entire restroom or building.
Bathroom stall at LBCC faces plumbing problems. LBCC restrooms have been facing cleanliness issues. (Jules Raisdanai)
The District only has two full-time plumbers, who are called to solve the most troublesome issues that custodians can’t.
“When we see vandalism, we do report it…they might not get done right away, depending on the egregiousness or extremely offensive that disrupts the campus,” said Dr. Maria Williams-Slaughter, Deputy Director Facilities Management.
In response to cleanliness levels, Dr. Slaughter stated that the District holds Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) standards, 1 being the highest, while 5 being the lowest.
While District personnel try to maintain overall restrooms at a 3.5 rating, Dr. Slaughter and Garcia shared that with the deliberate clogs and short-staff, the overall rating can sometimes slip between the 3.5 and 4 rating.
Slaughter stated that maintenance of lawn facilities is less nuanced than the maintenance of restroom facilities.
“We’re here to try to help and provide the best campus we can. I want you all to know you’re being heard,” said David Jefferson, Director of Risk Management & Campus Safety.
Dr. Slaughter and Jefferson encouraged students to report any vandalism or facilities issue that may be troubling or needing an immediate response by calling Facilities at 562-938-4040.
The Vikings dominated the Allan Hancock Bulldogs, clinching a solid 10-3 win in a non-conference game on Monday.
Leading the way was pitcher Liam Taylor, who helped limit the Bulldogs to just two runs in five innings while striking out five batters.
After pitching two innings apiece, pitchers Luis Guzman and Brian Pham controlled the ship and allowed the Bulldogs to score only one more run in the last period of the game.
Guzman emphasized that teamwork and unity have been the catalyst to the team’s success this season.
“We’ve been working really hard this whole season. This team is a brotherhood, we work as a unit and that is the key to our success,” Guzman said.
In contribution to the Vikings win, Luke Davis’s runs batted in singles in the first inning gave the Vikings a lead, freshman Davis Grawey, freshman Isaac Quiroz, freshman Reef Danner, and sophomore Caleb Brandon added four more runs keeping the momentum going.
Guzman went on to discuss how important discipline and the team’s work ethic was to their success.
“A lot of practice is what has got us where we are in conference, as long as we stay disciplined at practice and continue to put in the work nothing will stop us from becoming champions this season,” Guzman said.
The Vikings overcame the Bulldogs’ brief comeback in the fifth inning, as Davis added another run in the bottom half and AJ Quezada’s two-run double added two more.
“Our guys have shown an incredible amount of dedication off and on the field. The main factor driving our success this season is their unshakable work ethic,” assistant coach Phillip Visco said.
After a Bulldog error in the final inning, the Vikings increased their lead with two more runs. In the ninth inning the Bulldogs attempted a late comeback, but the Vikings held their composure and came out on top 10-3.
The Vikings played against East Los Angeles College and continued their winning run on Apr. 9, with a 7-6 run.
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