The Multi-Cultural Festival

The unrelenting sun pelted down on the students participating in the Multi-cultural Festival on the Southwest Terrace of the University Student Union held May 8.

From 12:00 to 3:00, a small number of students visited the festival. Those who braved the heat were treated with a variety of free food which consisted of several different ethic recipes, including Hawaiian pork and chicken dishes.

Brandy Bandrauk, 20, recreation and leisure major, provided entertainment for the sparse amount of students huddled under the blue umbrellas of the tables. Clad in full Tahitian attire, which included a coconut shell bikini top, Bandrauk performed the gyrating hip motions of the classic Tahitian style dancing.

“I think the performance went really well,” said Bandrauk, “but it’s just really hot outside and since I’m barefoot, I think I burned the bottom of my feet on stage!”

Long Beach Secular Students Bring the "eBay Atheist" to school

The newly formed Long Beach Secular Students held a special speaker event May 3.

Self proclaimed "friendly atheist" Hemant Mehta spoke to an audience of a little over twenty about the controversy surrounding his ebay auction where he "sold his soul" for $504, and also to promote his new book I Sold My Soul on Ebay : Viewing Faith Through an Atheist's Eyes.

A section of the book Religion on Campus, depicts Mehta’s experience prior to the auction at the University of Illinios (UIC) at Chicago, where he was a student at the time. In it, Mehta writes about the difficulty he had finding secular students like himself on campus.

“It turned out UIC had not a single atheist club, but it had 27 religious groups! And most of them were Christian.” Mehta wrote. “I was stunned.”

This lack of secular student clubs is also present at CSULB. There are twenty-three religious clubs on campus, none of which are secular, or of a non-spiritual nature.

However, Sean Bernhoft, 20, a CSULB history major, is the president of the newly forming Long Beach Secular Students.

“There needs to be a secular club because there wasn’t really any social environment for atheist, agnostics, and skeptics on campus.” said Bernhoft. “We want to meet people with similar opinions and we thought the best way to do so would be to take initiative and start the group.”

For more information on Mehta’s religious experience, check out his blog at friendlyatheist.com

*** Media Credit: Long Beach Secular Students posing with Mehta from the event. Taken from friendlyatheist.com.

Greek Sing of Greek Week

This week is Greek Week. A week where sororities and fraternities compete against each other in several competitions throughout the week.

Greek Sing, an event where interfraternal fraternities and panhellenic sororities are teamed together to compete against one another in a song and dance competition was held March 26 at the Woodrow Wilson High School Auditorium in Long Beach.

This year's winners of Greek Sing are Sigma Pi Fraternity and Alpha Phi Sorority.

Day of Silence

If you noticed that the campus hallways were a little quieter than normal, it’s because of the Day of Silence.

This national protest is to focus the public's attention on the many hardships lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals face everyday.

This is the seventh year CSULB had participated in the event. The Day of Silence is sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center, the Rainbow Alliance and is funded by Associated Students Inc.

Maraiana MeJordan, a CSULB freshman, was one of the many students participating in the event. Her commitment to the protest resulted in her even go as far as not to write down commentary on paper about the event .

** Media Credit: provided by www.dayofsilence.org

Spring Job Fair

The University Student Union Ballroom was transformed into a giant multi-interview on April 17 and 18 for the Spring Job Fair.

Over 180 employers participated in this two-day event. Possible careers ranged anywhere from government jobs for the County of Los Angeles, to marketing jobs for well-known companies like Disney, Target, and Hyatt Hotels.

“A Job Fair is kind of like one stop shopping, you could never see all of these employers on your own.” said Phyllis Milani, the Cal State Long Beach Career and Development Center event coordinator, the sponsor of the event.

** Media Credit: Sarah Castro
Job Fair - Justin Zilokowski, a senior political science major, receives information from a Manhattan Beach Police Officer during the job fair yesterday.

To read article about the Job Fair click here.

SPRING BREAK!!!

Sorry, no posts. I'm enjoying Spring Break!

A.M.A. Wins 4 Awards at Conference

American Marketing Association (A.M.A.) picked up several awards March 30 at the 29th annual A.M.A. International Collegiate Conference held in New Orleans.

Awards: Superior Collegiate Chapter, Website of the Year, Faculty Advisor of the Year, and Top Honors in a case competition.

“I’m so excited that all of our hard work throughout the year paid off.” said Ellen Street, CSULB A.M.A. President. “A.M.A. finally received the recognition we deserve at nationals.”

*** Media Credit. Picture acquired from AMA CSULB myspace.com profile.

Iraq War Anniversery Cancelled

The Muslim Student Association, which was to hold a Iraq War Anniversary at the Speaker's Platform in front of the University Bookstore was cancelled today.

Tri Delta Sorority Presents: Fashion For Life

Twenty-five Cal State Long Beach greeks graced the catwalk for Tri-Delta's 3rd annual Fashion for Life show Tuesday.

With models from Panhellenic, Interfraternity Council and two cultural chapters, the fashion show models entertained the audience with the latest jean fashions while strutting down the runway in the University Student Union Ballroom.

Proceeds from the fashion show added up to approximately $1,823, more than three times the profit of last year's show, benefited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, according to recreation and leisure major Michelle Baird, who helped advertise the event.

At the show studens were able to purchase designer jeans and other apparel for discounted prices. Designer brands include: Seven, Citizen, Rock and Republic, Frankie B., True Religion and more.

*** Media Credit. Taken by me. Models right before the fashion show.

To read more about this event click here.

Greeks at CSULB Receive Five Awards

At the Western Region Greek Association leadership conference, held March 2-4, Long Beach Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council took home five awards, as well as Advisor of the Year awarded to Caitlin Roberts.

Delta Zeta Sorority

Recent discrimination allegations of a chapter of Delta Zeta sorority at DePauw University have put Cal State Long Beach’s nineteen sororities under scrutiny as well.

An article in the latest March issue of People Magazine, as well as a Feb. 25 article in The New York Times, claim the ladies of the DePauw University sorority as “kicked out” and allege that the reasons for their departure are due to their “social awkward” attitude and appearance.
This supposed shallow behavior has transcended into a negative media frenzy surrounding the sorority as well as other sororities around the nation.

“Despite the negative media surrounding the DePauw chapter of our Delta Zeta sorority, I’m proud of what our Greek community stands for and am proud to be a Delta Zeta.” says Alissa Urbano, CSULB Delta Zeta Chapter president.

*** Photo: Members of CSULB's Delta Zeta Chapter in front of their house during recruitment week 2006.

For information on the delta zeta national sorority click here.

Three blog ideas

Idea #1. There has been recent issues regarding the sorority Delta Zeta at an Indiana College Campus, where 23 plus sorority members were turned away from the sorority. These women who were turned away are claiming discimination because of their looks. A reaction from Cal State Long Beach's own Delta Zeta sorority, as well as other sororities, would be interesting.

Idea #2. The Students in Fashion club is in preparations for their annual fashion show this year. Modeling audition will be held March 1, 2007. Going behind the scenes in the fashion/model college world would be an interesting view of fashion.

Idea #3. The Muslim Student Association, consistly sets up a booth on campus every week. It would be interesting to see exactly what these Muslim students views on the War in Iraq are, and it would be interesting to know if they feel any discrimination on the college campus from other non-Muslim students.

My Semi-exculsive Interview with Music Mogul DJ Quik

The bleachers shook as the many students stomped and danced in the crowd to the rhythmic sensation of DJ Quik’s performance at the Pep Rally held in the Walter Pyramid on Feb. 22. Moments before the legendary rapper took to the floor to perform, DJ Quik was available for a brief interview.

Being heralded as one of the most extraordinary producers to come out of the crime-ridden streets of Compton, DJ Quik (David Martin Blake) described the difference between his style of gangster rap from other gangster rap artists like Biggie Smalls and Tu Pac, both rappers which ultimately died from gangster-like violence.

According to DJ Quik, artists such as Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Easy-E, and himself are more of the theatrical aspect of the gangster rap realm, stating that they are “really about the fun of going out and being like gangster portrayers.”

Getting his start by the success of underground mix-tapes in the late 1980s, DJ Quik also touched on his ability to adapt to the new changes in rap over the years.

“[I] just keep my ear to the street,” said Quik, “To my closest people about my production because you know they’ll be honest with me and [I can] see what they like and see what they don’t like.”

The seemingly laid back, jewelry clad rapper ended the interview with an energetic “GO BEACH!”

For more information on DJ Quik, click here.

*** Photo: Photograph taken from www.VH1.com

HOMECOMING PEP RALLY AND TAILGATE: A SUCCESS

Cal State Long Beach's Homecoming festivities provided entertainment suiting a variety of tastes, thanks to the combined efforts of ASI, Alumni Associations, and the Athletics Department.

Two of the largest and main attractions were the Pep Rally held on Feb. 22 in The Walter Pyramid and the Homecoming Tailgate that also took place outside The Walter Pyramid on Feb. 24.

CSULB President F. King Alexander appeared to be enjoying the show."We should do this every year," Alexander said in reference to the magnitude of the performances. "This is a great university and this is what great universities do."

Although lasting only three hours, the Homecoming Tailgate, held outside of The Walter Pyramid, was jam-packed with concession stands, student organization booths, carnival games, competitions and performances.

****Photo: Media Credit: Leopoldo Pena
Michael Gomez, center, and members of the Criminal Justice Student Association dance to the beat of the country music on Lot 13 at Homecoming.

To read this entire article please click here.

CSULB Homecoming Coming Up!!!! Feb. 24!!

Everyone get excited!! CSULB's Homecoming Basketball Game against UC Davis is this Saturday at 4:05 at the CSULB's Pyramid! Everyone come out and support our team!