‘Brace,’ Indigenous faculty react to the incoming president

The entrance to Puvungna, located at CSULB, is a sacred site considered to be a spiritual center to Native Americans. Photo Credit: Isabela Zuniga

Reduced resources and funding for Indigenous students are just one of the possible impacts of the 2024 presidential election result, according to American Indian Studies professor Kelly Stewart.

American Indian Studies professors at Long Beach State shared their thoughts on former President Donald J. Trump’s re-election.

Kelly Stewart, a professor of American Indian Studies, said many in the program have viewed the results with a mixture of resolve and disappointment. 

“For me, this election outcome signals potential setbacks for Indigenous communities, both on campus and across the country, as it reinforces a divisive political climate where Native issues are unlikely to receive attention,” Stewart said.

It has been a century since Native Americans were given the right to vote, and since then, they have been a key demographic in elections.

During the 2020 election, voters contributed to a shift that made Arizona a Democratic state, which has not happened since the 1996 election.

According to NBC News exit polls, about 34% of Native Americans identified as a Democrat during the 2024 general election.

In comparison, 65% identified as Republican in ten key states. However, this poll and other news outlets recently received backlash with claims that there is a misrepresentation of Native communities. 

In a post, IllumiNative, a Native rights non-profit organization, pointed out the sample size was too small: Only 229 Native Americans responded in an exit poll.

The organization recommends being critical of what someone sees online, something Professor of American Indian Studies Thomas Reed agreed on.

“When people were making statements like ‘Oh, this is how Native people voted,’ I would say we should be skeptical. We should be highly critical of sample pools like that,” Reed said. 

Stewart said that with the incoming Trump administration Indigenous communities should brace for times when their voices may be marginalized but assured their resilience will guide them to fight for recognition and justice.

Additionally, she said President-elect Trump is reluctant to confront America’s colonial and expansionist legacy and is against addressing present issues, such as injustices of the Indigenous communities by the federal government.

“Locally, this may translate into reduced resources for Indigenous students and programs, directly affecting educational pathways and support systems critical for fostering Native identity,” Stewart said

Along with Stewart, Reed also highlighted issues that may impact the Indigenous community, such as land, water and healthcare rights. 

When he attended the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, which took place from April 2016 to February 2017, Reed said a wide-ranging concern was who would protect the water, which may be brought up moving forward.

“When I was there, there’d be this chant that people would say, ‘Water is life, you can’t drink oil,’” Reed said. “There’s this notion that it’s not a matter of if; it’s when those pipelines break, the water becomes undrinkable. The land becomes unusable.” 

He said the perspective on these matters vary depending on the tribal nation and the person’s age, economic status and educational level.

“Even within my own family, we have different views,” Reed said.

Reed said people should be the change they want to see in the world. When it comes to understanding Native people on the matter of the election results, he said that just being a good friend and showing appreciation helps to support and educate.

“We can either sit on the sidelines and watch things go a certain way, or we can show up to make a change on a local level, which can then lead to a national level,” Reed said. “Whoever is president, I want the best for seven generations to come. I want the best for all our people.” 

Triptides concert closes the semester with a relaxing, groovy escape

From left to right, Glenn Brigman, Craig Jacobs and Tyler English of Triptides perform their track, “Latitudes” on Dec. 4. Photo Credit: Isabela Zuniga

Associated Students Inc. Beach Pride Events provided students a break from their busy schedules through free live music as finals exams approach.

Described as a fusion of ‘60s and ‘70s jazz, soul and psychedelic rock, the Los Angeles-based band, Triptides performed at Noontime Concerts at the University Student Union Southwest Terrance on Dec. 4.

Hosted by Associated Students Inc. Beach Pride Events, the free concert was accompanied with drinks, snacks and a photo booth for students.

Triptides performed songs such as “Latitudes,” “Reactor” and “Thought Collector”– all from their latest album, “Starlight,” released in 2023.

Their album was inspired by Stevie Wonder, Switzerland band Klaus Johann Grobe and modern sounds with organs and old pianos, according to the band’s keyboardist, Glenn Brigman.

“We were trying to make something different, [with] less guitars,” Brigman said. “We still love playing guitar, but something that has a different palette to it.”

The band’s members also consist of Craig Jacobs on drums and Tyler English, who plays bass. Brigman said they started the band while in college in Indiana.

“We just started jamming, some friends, and it turned into a band,” he said. “I’ve kept the band going for the last 14 years.”

As the concert continued, Brigman often engaged with the audience by promoting their records and speaking about college.

“We’re playing in a kind of hangout area to college. Normally, we play at a theater, venue or festival, but it’s a nice excuse to get together and jam,” Brigman said. “We had a good time, it’s a beautiful day and [ASI] took care of us with the booking.”

Beach Pride Events Coordinator April Marie Castro said that Noontime Concerts are a staple event for students to take a break individually or with friends. 

“We try to provide experiences where you can go and step away for an hour and disassociate from reality,” Castro said. “It’s challenging enough for students to sometimes go off campus to experience live music. Places like Coachella are extremely expensive, even though it looks so much fun, but sometimes it’s not feasible… here on campus, it’s a free experience.”

Aileen Perez, on the far left, and her friends attended the Noontime Concert on Dec. 4. The group said that the music reminded them of Tame Impala. Photo Credit: Isabela Zuniga

Within the audience was Aileen Perez, a third year sociology major taking the opportunity to listen to the live music. Events like these, Perez said, provide a break from having to think about constant studying.

“I’m a commuter, and when I’m here, I’m here all day, so it’s really nice to be here and enjoy my lunch,” Perez said.

Perez also found the music to be uplifting; with her group of friends, Perez said they jokingly called for one more song at the end, but it didn’t happen.

“I thought it was so good– I was like levitating,” Perez said. “I was like, wow, we need to Shazam this.”

Event Assistant of ASI Beach Pride Events Eren Lita said she chose to feature Triptides at this event to inspire students to be creative, relax and have a clear state of mind. 

As someone already familiar with Triptides, Lita said due to proximity, it was the most likely that they could play at Long Beach State, which made the planning processing easier. She also took into consideration Triptides’ range and mellow music vibe. 

“They are very ‘70s [and] very beach-y, so I personally love that type of music,” Lita said. “I’ve been to over 100 concerts, so I’m pretty familiar with the scene and everything, and trying to bring a little bit of that to campus is always cool.”

According to Castro, ASI Beach Pride Events are working on logistics and details to have Noontime Concerts continue in the spring semester.

Future Noontime Concerts can be found on ASI’s event page here. 

Former College of Liberal Arts Dean dies, leaves lasting legacy

Dorothy “Dee” Abrahamse with Former President F. King Alexander of CSULB at Abrahamse’s Legacy Lecture in 2006. Photo Credit: Special Collections & University Archives

Feminist pioneer, public library advocate, and former College of the Liberal Arts Dean, Dorothy “Dee” Abrahamse died the morning of Nov. 6 at 85 years old.

Abrahamse had spent over 15 years as the dean, until she retired in 2007. Her death was announced to the campus community via email by the current CLA Dean, Deborah Thien.

Described as a role model who championed student success, Laura Kingsford, former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics said Abrahamse was someone she could turn to when she needed a friend or advice.

Kingsford had the chance to work with Abrahamse starting in the summer of 2003. She said they bonded over the curriculum for general education classes for students.

“Within our two colleges, we were always planning and making sure everything was okay for the courses students have to take, as well as our individual departments,” Kingsford said.

Before becoming a dean, Abrahamse was a history professor at CSULB specializing in the history of the Byzantine Empire. While dean, she played a role in supporting the university's language, culture and literary programs.

Dorothy “Dee” Abrahamse during her time as the College of Liberal Arts Dean in 2002. Photo Credit: Special Collections & University Archives

Sharon Olson, director of Study Abroad at CSULB, said she met Abrahamse on her first day as a transfer student. Abrahamse encouraged her to enroll in medieval history courses, something Olson did not intend to do.

“I fell in love with the historical time period and took many courses from Dee as an undergraduate and later as a graduate student,” Olson said. “Dee was not only a mentor to me but to many other adult returning women students during the late 1970s and 1980s.”

Olson said Abrahamse encouraged her class to participate in extracurricular activities on campus, including medieval fairs and the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

When the history department was in development, Abrahamse paid attention to the budgets and, when she could, approved new hires.

One of these hires, David Shafer, the current chair of the Department of History, noted Abrahamse’s understanding of the department’s needs and commitment to supporting faculty scholarship and research.

“She was nothing but generous and accommodating to us and supportive of our efforts,” Shafer said. “And that’s good because what it [did was] put CSULB on the map.”

Shafer also said Abrahamse supported hosting an international conference on campus, the Western Society for French History.

Beyond the university, Abrahamse was a Long Beach Public Library’s Foundation advocacy team member. Being part of the library's advocacy team, she fought to prevent the closure of the Billie Jean King Main Library in 2008. She also helped with the plans for opening the Michelle Obama Library in North Long Beach and the remodeling of the Main Library.

“She contributed to countless, yearly city budget discussions opposing cuts to the library budget,” said Long Beach Public Library Foundation’s former Board President Margaret Smith.

Smith said Abrahamse was a very quiet person and not assertive, something Smith found interesting given her roles in academia and being one of the first women to serve in those positions.

“She was very thoughtful, sweet, kind and sort of a funny but very subtle sense of humor,” Smith said.

Abrahamse was also a singer in the Long Beach Camerata Singers ensemble and a member of Carnegie49, the legacy foundation part of the Long Beach Public Library.

Abrahamse’s legacy continues to be felt throughout the Long Beach community and the university, specifically in strengthening the History Department and her focus on student successes.

According to Shafer, a memorial is still pending and will likely not happen this fall semester.

Student media barred entry at post-election support and debrief event

The Dream Success Center shared career guidance and upcoming events in addition to the immigration resources for students during the Reflect and Reset: Processing Political Change Together meeting in SSSC-122. The Long Beach Current was not allowed to observe the meeting due to student privacy concerns. Photo Credit: Isabela Zuniga

Long Beach Current reporters were denied entry to The Reflect and Reset: Processing Political Change Together event that took place from Nov. 4-Nov. 8.

The Office of Belongings and Inclusion, the Dream Success Center and the Counseling and Psychological Services provided a space for students to reflect and reset following the results of the 2024 election.

When Long Beach Current reporters arrived to collect interviews, there was a rejection for all media despite the website not mentioning any restrictions.

The website, now changed, says “these spaces are not open to media.”

When approached for a comment about why media was not allowed, Vice President of Student Affairs, Beth Lesen, said the organizations would take this into consideration and change the description. 

According to the event coordinators, the main concern was the safety of any undocumented students present, especially after Election Day.

Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Jeff Klaus, apologized for the mistake and said that Student Affairs wanted to create a space where students felt safe, comfortable and had confidentiality. 

“Having student information shared without their knowledge could have been a concern,” Klaus said.

Norma Salcedo, director of the Dream Success Center, said at the event, a conversation was moderated by CAPS who shared resources on how to cope during and after the election.

The DCS provided information regarding free immigration legal services for Long Beach State students’ and their immediate families in collaboration with the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles.

Resources such as community spaces and one-on-one consultations were available to students. 

“It is important for us at DSC to create spaces for students impacted by immigration policy to process and debrief events like the presidential election so that they have an opportunity to express how they feel in a safe and private environment,” Salcedo said. 

The DSC also shared information on upcoming events and financial aid support. Salcedo said elections can be stressful on marginalized communities, and not knowing how elections will impact someone can create uncertainty and concern. 

“Regardless of what is to come, the DSC will continue to consider the well-being and support of all students, ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” Salcedo said.

A fourth-year political science student who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons said that she attended the event because she wanted to learn more about what people’s emotions were following the recent election results.

“When I first came to campus everyone was fine, and I thought maybe I was overthinking it,” she said. “Other people shared their opinions about it, and everyone was stirred up about the results, and it made me feel a little bit more at peace that I’m not the only one that feels the results of the election is going to affect you.” 

The anonymous student also said she witnessed others’ reactions to the results on campus before attending the event.

“I just came from a class and the professor was sort of rethinking his career and all the years of devotion he put towards,” she said. “[He’s] teaching students that they do have a voice and that their vote matters.” 

Klaus said it is important to communicate to students beforehand if media is permitted at these events because then students may not feel comfortable coming to these spaces.

“Students are going [to these spaces] to process something personal to them, we want to make sure everyone is clear on what the space is,” Klaus said. “If we don’t want the media present because of that type of space where we want students to feel comfortable and confident, then we need to do our part to let you know in advance.”

4.0 student and international athlete, Kristina Ponomareva

LBSU women's golf senior Kristina Ponomareva is originally from Russia and came to the U.S. to play golf for The Beach. In high school, Ponomareva finished in the top 10 at both the 2020 and 2021 Russia Open Amateur Championships. Photo by: John Fajardo of LBSU Athletics

Kristina Ponomareva was an accomplished international player for her home country of Russia before moving to the U.S. and representing The Beach's womens golf team.

Originally from Krasnogorsk, Russia, today senior Kristina Ponomareva helps lead a Long Beach State women’s golf team that is ranked top 50 in the country.

Her achievements in her home country include finishing in the top three at the Russian National Junior Tournament in 2019, which led to her recruitment into the Russian national team at the age of 13, winning the 2019 Russian Open Amateur Championship by two strokes and being runner-up at the 2016 and 2018 Russian Junior Championship. 

During her time in Russia, Ponomareva said the transition to the national team was a big change.

“We had to practice much more [and] would go to Turkey and Spain during the winter time because in Russia, it was impossible to practice because of the weather,” Ponomareva said. 

The experience inspired her to move to the United States for college. When LBSU reached out to her, Ponomareva appreciated the consideration and decided to commit. 

“I saw girls who also played for the national team but were already older, so it motivated me and gave me the idea,” Ponomareva said.

The accessibility to the practice facilities, easy transportation from Los Angeles to Moscow and the academic programs also influenced her decision. 

Ponomareva now competes for her team at LBSU, but in Russia, she competed as an individual. 

“We competed against each other in the home tournaments, and here [in Long Beach], I don’t have to think about how I’m going to win or lose to my teammates,” Ponomareva said. “I want them to do their best and play good as a team and not as an individual.”

Ponomareva said her biggest achievement since coming to the United States was winning the Long Beach City Women’s Amateur Championship in 2022, where she scored a tournament record 10-under par over three rounds en route to becoming the first LBSU women’s golfer to achieve the honor.

“I was scootering from the dorms to the El Dorado Park Golf Course every day for 20 minutes and would stay on the golf course for seven hours or more,” Ponomareva said. “My name is in the hall of fame at El Dorado forever now.”

LBSU women’s golf senior Kristina Ponomareva is a two-time Academic All-Big West selection and in 2021-2022 carried a perfect 4.00 GPA. Not only does she work hard in the classroom, but she also is committed to improving her golf game, according to her head coach Alyssa Waite. Photo credit: LBSU Athletics

Despite all her success, Ponomareva did not always know golf was the sport she wanted to play. 

She started to play tennis at 5-years-old, and continued for four more years but quickly became tired of the sport. 

“There was a par three nine holes golf course and my mom forced me to try it, but because golf wasn’t popular in Russia, I didn’t know about it, but still went,” Ponomareva said. 

After competing in a putting competition in her first practice with children who had been practicing for a while, Ponomareva decided to fully commit to golf. 

She now looks forward to the spring season but wants to improve on her swing and her long game.

LBSU women’s golf head coach Alyssa Waite said that Ponomareva dedicates more time than anyone on the team.

“She and I came in together our first year in 2021, and the biggest thing that stands out is how hard she works and is truly committed to making her game better in whatever form and fashion that is,” Waite said. 

Her commitment and dedication are not just traits that she applies to golf. She is also an applied mathematics major and was named to the Academic All-Big West team and a WGCA All-American Scholar in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons thanks to her 4.00 GPA. 

Waite valued Ponomareva’s balance of being a student-athlete and said that she is a great example for younger players. 

“Kristina balances [her work ethic] very well, and commits a lot of time to the classroom,” Waite said. “She has the highest GPA on the team, and being an applied mathematics major, that’s extremely difficult.”

Ponomareva said she does not plan to play golf as a career, but advises athletes in international countries who want to play in the U.S. to be ready to do their best in their classes and the gym. 

“It is a big risk to leave your home country,” Ponomareva said. “You cannot let yourself down or the people who support you in taking this risk down.”

Long Beach will host two benefits walks to raise funds and awarness

Rainbow Lagoon Park will serve as the location for the Stop Diabetes Walk on Oct. 26. The event is focused on raising funds to battle the condition. Photo credit: Isabela Zuniga

A duo of benefit walks will help raise awareness for multiple organizations focused on battling diseases including diabetes and Alzheimer's.

The Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes and Long Beach Walk to End Alzheimer’s are both set to take place this Saturday, Oct. 26 to raise awareness of the diseases and gather funds.

The advocacy walks will occur at various locations in Long Beach, including Rainbow Lagoon Park, Shoreline Aquatic Park and Granada Launch Ramp.

The Step Out Walk, presented by the American Diabetes Association, will take place at Rainbow Lagoon Park; check-in will be from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and the walk will start at 9:00 a.m. 

Director of Public Relations at ADA, Virginia Cramer, said the event will bring people with diabetes, supporters and volunteers closer together to raise funds for research and education. 

“[The event] also helps ADA distribute various educational resources, including webinars, podcasts and more for healthcare professionals to stay updated on the latest diabetes care practices,” Cramer said.

According to Graham Allbaugh, development director at ADA, Long Beach State’s 22 West Media will be at the event playing music before the opening ceremony. 

Arts and crafts opportunities for children will also be available, and companies that work in the diabetes field will be in attendance. 

“We encourage people to visit those tents in the morning,” Allbaugh said. “At our opening ceremony, we will have a dedicated group of volunteers who will be managing [the tents] in conjunction with staff.”

The walk is free to register and open to all ages. Registered participants can park in the lot next to the convention center.

“For the general public, the best way for people to visit us is to park across the street at Marina Green Park and just walk across the crosswalk,” Allbaugh said.

The Long Beach Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held at Shoreline Aquatic Park, with the opening ceremony starting at 10:00 a.m. and the walk beginning at 10:15 a.m. 

During the event, a photo booth and face painting will be available as well as live music from a DJ. The opening ceremony will include participants carrying flowers of different colors to represent their connection to Alzheimer’s. 

As of Wednesday, the organization had reached 57% of its fundraising goal, Lauren Schaefer, manager of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, said. 

“We are expecting 1,100 people to attend the event,” Schaefer said. “The funds raised will go toward Alzheimer’s research, which includes our free 24/7 help line, free local caregiver support groups and our research to find a cure.”

Paws, felines and fetches: Long Beach Pet Fair returns

4-year-old Quicksilver, in his neon "adopt me" vest, listens to shelter volunteer Cheryl Ferramola as she gives him a sit command. Photo credit: Isabela Zuniga

The Long Beach Pet Fair took place on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, in hopes of finding homes for animals in need.

To help animals find their forever homes, the Long Beach Pet Fair returned for its third year with activities including costume contests, presentations, food and craft vendors at Marina Green Park on Oct. 19 – 20.

The event was organized by The Little Lion Foundation, The Cat Cove and Long Beach Animal Care Services, with over 100 vendors featured across both days. 

Though entry to the event was free, a $5 donation was highly encouraged to support the animal rescues of mainly dogs, cats and rabbits.

To kick off the Long Beach Pet Fair’s second day on Oct. 20, the event hosted the Long Beach Police Department’s K9 demonstration from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Photo credit: Isabela Zuniga

Two volunteers with The Little Lion Foundation, Maria Perez and Jeremy Pickle, provided attendees with information about the event. The pair said that the fair is mainly about pet adoptions.

Perez said that when online, people tend to eye the pets and then think about adoption later. 

“We find that there have been a lot less adoptions,” Perez said. “We’re hoping by getting them out with some publicity, someone will take a friend home today.” 

Perez also said new products, such as litter made out of tofu, are available for people to try. 

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Little Lion Foundation Claudia Otis said the organization’s philanthropic goal for this year’s event is to bring awareness to the community about the need to care for animals. 

“Whether they’re stray cats walking around, dogs or shelter animals, they are in major need,” Otis said.

The Little Lion Foundation originally served only neonatal kittens who were brought into their local shelters at Long Beach Animal Care Services, their rescue partners. 

The organization now has a foster program that does up to 500 adoptions a year and performs Trap-Neuter-Return, a method to try and stop the continuous births of kittens on the street. 

“Our newest big program is that we are opening a spray and neuter clinic, but it’s only for TNR cats,” Otis said.

Co-Founders Jessica Ruth and Claudia Otis of The Little Lion Foundation stand in front of kittens up for adoption at the Long Beach Pet Fair on Oct. 20. Ruth is also the foster coordinator for the organization. Photo Credit: Isabela Zuniga

Since its first year, the Long Beach Pet Fair has grown in popularity, with presenters throughout the event sharing their experience in sheltering and adopting to increase the number of adoptions. 

Co-organizer, The Long Beach Animal Care Services, was at the fair to help attendees become involved in pet adoptions and offer resources to anyone who may find stray animals and wishes to help reunite the animals with their owners before they come to the shelter. 

Alma Vera-Lima, superintendent of LBACS, said the event is an opportunity to receive visibility of their shelters and let the Long Beach community know they are available. 

“A lot of people don’t know where we are and that we’re here,” Vera-Lima said. “We want to empower the community to help the animals in their own communities.” 

As of 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, three animals were adopted from LBACS. 

“About five minutes ago, a previous adopter from our shelter came and thanked us for finding them a great pet,” Vera-Lima said.

Other than adoptions, LBACS offers pet licensing programs that provide tags and inject microchips into dogs and cats. Vera-Lima said that animal field services are available to handle pet bites and strays at large as well. 

Other than the main organizers, volunteers also offered their time to assist at the pet fair, including Cheryl Ferramola and Gusti Lind.

For Ferramola and Lind, the fair was an opportunity for them to help their longtime stay dog, Quicksilver, find a forever home.

“It’s more about Quicksilver, and to get him some exposure,” Ferramola said.  “We realized he needs to do more agility training because he wasn’t the best at that.”

The fair also had resources to assist people who struggle with their pet’s behavioral issues. Lind said that the shelter can aid in training the pets with these minor issues and offer veterinarian care. 

“These [resources] are things that people can’t typically afford, along with high-end food for [dogs] too,” Lind said.

Held yearly, the Long Beach Pet Fair plans to return next summer on Aug. 20 and 21.

Ethnic studies at CSULB is a crucial step toward embracing diversity

The Department of Chicano and Latino Studies desk, located at MHB 201, showcasing faculty for the fall. The staff, along with Native, Asian and African American departments have played a leading role in ensuring an ethnic studies course is required to graduate. Photo by Isabela Zuniga

University ethnic studies is a necessary curriculum

Assembly Bill 1460, enacted in August 2020, marks a significant milestone in California’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within higher education.

The legislation mandates that all California State University campuses offer ethnic studies courses as a graduation requirement for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Long Beach State’s General Education Area F allows students to engage with topics such as racism, gender and culture.

However, concerns remain about the depth of these courses and the continued relevance of ethnic studies departments and their educational purposes.

Rigoberto Rodriguez, department chair for Chicano and Latino Studies, highlighted how the ethnic studies curriculum provides a new point of view. 

“Our curricula provide students with an education that goes beyond a Eurocentric view of the world,” Rodriguez said. “Our engaged scholarship also actively contributes to a more inclusive and just society for all.”

Rodriguez also shared plans for the department, as ethnic studies extends beyond only a course.

“We are building a master’s degree in comparative race and ethnic studies. We have more faculty that now teach pretty much all first-year students, so that’s a clear example of how we have influenced the shape of the Long Beach State curriculum but also the whole CSU system,” Rodriguez said.

The value of ethnic studies is evident given that Long Beach State already requires the course and how it is acknowledged as a resource for learning from different cultural backgrounds. 

California high schools have also embraced ethnic studies as a key component of their curriculum. According to the California Department of Education, courses like ethnic studies create a more positive connection for students toward their education.

The College of Professional and Continuing Education advances high school students to earn college credit at Long Beach State for ethnic studies courses.

JD Archibald, who has run the program since 2017, discussed his role and the evolution of ethnic studies in today’s academic climate.

“Being able to work on this program, their registration and orientation side to make sure we get as many students as possible to take these classes is important [to me],” Archibald said.

When asked about trends in enrollment, Archibald noted an increase over time.

“I don’t think there’s been a huge shift in enrollments,” Archibald said. “There would’ve been one before and after 2016, given what happened politically.”

Early implementation of the program equips students with critical thinking skills and firsthand experience in diverse cultural environments.

Isabella Torres Ortega, a third-year anthropology and religious studies double major, gave her thoughts on the ethnic studies department.

“I think it added a lot in terms of American Indian races as my teacher was of that background, and she talked about that topic a lot,” Torres Ortega said.

Professors with personal experience in the culture they teach are a useful academic resource for students.

“I do think it’s valuable if everyone took this class because it offers people a chance to learn about other cultures and other races in a setting that’s non-judgmental,” Torres Ortega said. 

Ethnic studies departments remain relevant, though the new course requirement may present some challenges moving forward.

However, faculty continues to be committed to educating students on cultural histories and cultivating a positive learning environment that students can carry with them throughout their academic journey.

California’s struggle with online sports betting legalization

California Proposition 27 would have legalized online sports betting in California with a portion of the revenues going into a Homelessness Prevention Fund. The proposition was defeated at the ballots on Nov. 8, 2022 at the U.S. midterm elections. Graphic credit: Stephanie Morales

As this year's election approaches, concerns grow over the potential return of California's Proposition 27 and its impact on college athletes through the risks of online sports betting.

California’s Proposition 27 aims to legalize online sports betting while funding homelessness, but it may also increase gambling pressures on college athletes and students.

The proposition, involving three gaming operators, seeks to boost economic markets and grant these operators control over the timing of market launches.

If passed, companies are required to pay a one-time fee and partner with Native American tribes, which would use their tribal names for sports betting platforms.

Although Prop 27 did not pass in 2022, the focus on its impact on Native American tribes and the gaming industry has diverted attention from concerns about how betting could affect college sports programs.

In February 2024, during the NCAA Women’s Final Four, President Charlie Baker expressed concern that athlete Caitlin Clark’s overall performance was receiving more attention than the tournament itself.

According to the Associated Press, Baker raised concerns about the threats athletes might face from dissatisfied bettors. He then urged states to ban sports betting, specifically on individual players. 

If Prop 27 were enacted, it could determine the integrity of college athletics. Following the objections from Baker and the NCAA, states have gradually begun to eliminate prop betting.

Sports betting is not only a challenge for athletes; it has also led to increased bankruptcy rates in states due to the rise in sports wagering.

Findings from UCLA and USC show that states with sports betting have a 0.3% drop in credit scores, while those with legalized online betting see a decline three times greater.

Additionally, the study emphasized that adolescents and individuals from low-income families are at the highest risk of being exposed to sports betting.

Normalizing gambling can lead to significant issues, including substantial debt. This amount of wagering is detrimental to states, as it often results in financial problems for residents. 

SPUR’s voter guide recommended voting against Prop. 27, citing the lack of established fundamental rules for online betting in California and noting concerns about the potential for gambling addictions.

Although mental health issues have risen for various reasons in recent years, gambling is often overlooked as a contributing factor.

Students appear to be unaware of the potential effects of gambling and prop bets, particularly on mental health.

A 2023 NCAA study, covered by ESPN, found that 58% of young adults have participated in sports betting and 70% believe that it enhances their chance of winning. This belief could harm students rather than benefit them. 

When asked about potential consequences for students placing bets, ESPN said only “21 of the 24 schools contacted by ESPN declined to comment or did not respond to multiple emails asking about their educational efforts around gambling.”

Although California’s Prop 27 failed to pass before 2022 and is not on the ballot this election, there is no guarantee that it cannot resurface in the future.

It is every Californian’s responsibility to prevent Prop 27 from being legalized in the future. Sports betting compromises the credibility of games and adversely affects the portrayal of athletes.

Given the dedication athletes put into their work, they do not deserve to be reduced to mere bets based on their performances.

College sports programs should be properly respected and colleges should continue to impose restrictions on sports betting.