April '13 Issue - DIG Magazine

SXSW
UNITING ALL
MUSIC LOVERS
P. 12
EARTH DAY
GET YOUR
GREEN ON
P. 11
magazine
JORDAN
SEGGMAN
BRINGS US
DROPGOODS P. 8
LB GRAND PRIX
FORMULA DRIFT
BURNS RUBBER
P. 5
APRIL 2013

team
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-ChiEf SAShA mILENA
Art dirECtor LEROy mATThEwS
ASSoCiAtE Editor JULIE ChUNg
onLinE Editor DIANA SANgLAB
Photo Editor NATALIE BOUROUmAND
ASSiStAnt Photo Editor NINA LODICO
Art ASSiStAnt RAChEL ThOmAS
VIOLET BANkS
VIPUL ChOPRA
EditoriAL ASSiStAntS VIVIAN gATICA
DANIEL gOLDSBARy
SoCiAL MEdiA Editor CAT TOmPkINS
StAff WritErS ANgELA RATZLAFF
mATT gRIPPI
ContriBUtinG WritErS
digmageditor@gmail.com
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
SSPA 030, Long Beach, CA
90840-4601
Phone: (562)-985-7984
PRODUCTION
JOSh ESQUEDA
SImONE gULLBERg
CORTNEy LONg
Amy PATTON
AREILLA RAmS
mATThEw SOUSA
LyZETTE SALwAy
ALISON TRAUx
AdvErtiSinG BEVERLy mUNSON
PUBLiCAtion AdviSEr gARy mETZkER
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
SSPA 010B, Long Beach, CA
90840-4601
Phone: (562) 985-5736
© Dig & 49er Publications Board 2012
Dig Magazine is a publication of Dig &
49er Publications Board. Signed letters or
emails are welcomed, appreciated and
must include authors’ name.
editor’s note
BY sAsHA MiLeNA
When I learned about Cal State Long Beach student Jordan Seggman and how he
started a charitable business out of a dorm room, I immediately knew that his story had
to be told. Seggman’s story about Drop Goods is so compelling because he’s just a
regular guy from Riverside, Calif. who goes to class every day just like you and me, but
decided to be more than just an average student.
I finally met the man behind the bracelets at the cover photo shoot, where he graciously
posed for our new photographer.
Dig has featured original student photography on the cover of every issue since September.
This issue was no exception when Dig Photo Editor Natalie Bouroumand brought on
CSULB photo major Jonathan Castillo to take Seggman’s photos.
If you live in Long Beach, especially near downtown, you might not need an alarm clock
this month. The thundering sounds of race cars practicing in the wee hours of the morning
can only mean one thing: The Long Beach Grand Prix has arrived. Our city becomes
inundated with motorsport fans from around the world, but locals can partake in the fun
as well.
In “Driving Sideways,” we take a look at an alternative motorsport that will take on the
streets of Long Beach this month - Formula Drift.
For those looking for a more mellow experience, the LA Times Festival of Books held
at the University of Southern California is sure to please book lovers. You’ll also find
CSULB professor Charles Harper Webb reading poetry excerpts from his new book,
“What Things Are Made Of.”
Speaking of what things are made of, it also happens to be Earth Day this month. Earth
Day is a perfect time to reflect on the impact we have on our planet. At CSULB, many
students make the environment a priority. Turn to page 11, to see what other students
are doing for Mother Earth and to see what you can do for the planet this month.
From smoking tires to going green, we’ve got you covered this month. So, Dig in!
DIG US?
digmagonline.com

FEATURE
CONTENTS
08 DROPGOODS
A STORY ABOUT A GUY, HIS
WRISTBANDS AND A WHOLE
LOT OF HEART
ABOUT THE COVER
We caught up with DropGoods creator Jordan Seggman in
front of the Hillside dorms at Cal State Long Beach. New Dig
photographer and photo major Jonathan Castillo brought his
creative perspective, expertise and fancy equipment to get
the perfect shot for our April issue.
Photography by Jonathan Castillo
BACK COVER PHOTO BY LARRY CHEN/ FORMULAD.COM
04 FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
05 FORMULA DRIFT
10 BREAST CANCER
11 EARTH DAY
12 SXSW
14 OPENING DAY
15 CALENDAR

a novel idea
The LA Times 18Th AnnuAL FesTivAL oF Books
by Cortney Long and Simone guLLberg
C
4
elebrity sightings, food truck tasting,
the opportunity to expand your literary
repertoire beyond “Harry Potter” and
“The Hunger Games,” and a chance to support
Cal State Long Beach’s very own Professor
Charles Harper Webb. What more could any
student ask for?
Our lives have become a rinse and repeat
cycle of an online world. In this not-so-new age
of technology, books have become outdated,
vintage almost. However, the LA Times 18th
Annual Festival of Books on April 20 and 21
at the University of Southern California allows
you to break the monotony, and rock those
bookworm glasses that have been collecting
dust in your room.
The Festival of Books is a free event that
celebrates the love of all things literate. It features
exhibits and seminars from prominent authors,
along with storytelling and poetry-readings. If
your pockets are feeling a bit heavy with the free
entrance, there are more than 300 exhibitors
selling and promoting books and book-related
items from the Los Angeles area. The festival
has become the largest and most prestigious
book festival in the country, attracting more than
150,000 people each year.
The festival attracts all type of book lovers:
even celebrities. This year’s Festival of Books
will feature timeless Breakfast Club actress
Molly Ringwald and Comedy Central comedian
Demetri Martin.
An even better reason to attend the Festival is to
cheer on Professor Webb as he gives a reading
of his newest collection of poetry, “What Things
Are Made Of.” Webb has been teaching creative
writing at CSULB for more than 20 years and
has participated almost annually in the Festival
of Books for the past 10 years. “What Things
Are Made Of” debuted last month, and Webb is
excited to give its first reading at 3:30 p.m. on
Sat., April 20.
“I think it’s fairly typical of my work, and it’s
seriously funny,” Webb says. “I use a lot of humor
in my work.”
As a veteran of the Festival, Webb urges
students to attend, especially if they have any
interest in writing or reading.
“The festival is the place,” he said. “They have
really well-known writers and terrific poets, and
a bunch of celebrities. I even saw Eric Idle from
Monty Python one year.”
Even if you aren’t the most avid of readers, don’t
throw this Festival on the shelf just yet. (Pun
intended). The Festival offers much more than
just books. Unleash the inner Emeril Lagasse
with cooking demonstrations and appearances
from famous foodies. Brian Boitano, Olympic
gold medalist figure skater, and host of Food
Network’s What Will Brian Boitano Make, will be
attending, as well as Top Chef’s Susan Feniger
and Antonia Lofaso. The cherry on top? Once
again, pun intended. The entire cooking stage
The Festival of Books is sure to attract huge crowds on the USC campus every year.
will be surrounded by food trucks- an LA staple.
There will be food trucks there…need we say
more?
For those who fancy themselves more cultural
than culinary, this year’s Festival boasts
the addition of a Pop & Hiss music stage.
All weekend long, local LA bands like Max
Lugavere, Dustbowl Revival and Jasper Dixon
Review will rock the eardrums of attendees.
If in need of intellectual stimulation, head over
to the conversation panels where current events
and social matters will be discussed. The topics
range anywhere from legalization of marijuana
and gun control policy, to sexuality and religion.
A must-see is the panel on humor-writing with
Twitter legend Kelly Oxford, Chelsea Lately’s
Heather McDonald, and NPR and The Moth’s
Ophira Eisenberg.
This month, forget about your electronics and
take a step into the past. Revisit a time where
books actually had covers and pages, rather than
screens and buttons. No time machine required.
The Festival of Books runs approximately from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at USC, on the weekend of
April 20 and 21. The metro is running through
the USC campus for the first time this year, so
without the hefty $10 USC parking fee, there
really is no excuse not to go. Leave your car in
the LBC, hop on the metro and enjoy a weekend
of books. You can even take your phone with
you for the mandatory Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram updates.
Photo by Cortney Long
Professor Charles Harper Webb featured with his
book, “What Things Are Made Of.”

“
What’s not to like about the
recklessness of driving a
car - being able to practice
controlling something that’s, you
know, essentially out of control at
the same time?”
Professional driver Ryan Tuerck has
hit on the best way to describe Formula
Drift - just one of the motorsports set
to take on the streets as part of this
year’s Long Beach Grand Prix, the
longest-running street race in the US.
Formula Drift is kind of the stepchild
of the more established race formats
we’ll see there, like Le Mans and Indy
cars -- an irreverent, distinctly flashy
stepchild.
Here’s the thing: it isn’t a race. Just as
driving
sideways
BEHIND THE SMOKE OF FORMULA DRIFT AT THE
LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX
Formula Drift takes on the streets of
Long Beach during the 39th Long Beach
Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Ryan Tuerck.
BMXers moved from the dirt course to
the half-pipe and the sport took a turn
more about style than speed, Formula
Drift is a blur of colors, wheels - and
tons of smoke.
“It’s like doing a big-ass burnout, but
for a long, extended period of time
through a series of turns,” says Tuerck.
But that control Tuerck mentions is
key - with the flashy comes finesse.
“We’re judged on speed, angle, line
and overall style.”
As cars go head to head in tandem
battles, skills become essential on the
track. When the drivers turn corners,
they drift in synchronicity, dangerously
close to one another. Professional
driver and 2009 Formula Drift
BY SASHA MILENA
champion Chris Forsberg describes
just how risky the Long Beach course
really is.
“The track is super dangerous,”
Forsberg says. “It’s got walls on both
sides, which makes no room for error
and since it’s a streets course, the fans
are sitting right at the edge.”
The Long Beach course is one of the
riskiest because the narrowest point
on the track from one concrete block
to another is only about 45 feet, says
Formula Drift founder and president
Jim Liaw. Just imagine two cars
squeezing through this narrow space,
while attempting to maintain control
in order to get points, with screaming
fans only inches away from the fence.
It gets trickier, too – this year, Formula
5

6
“IT’S LIKE DOING A BIG-ASS BURNOUT, BUT FOR A LONG,
EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THROUGH A SERIES OF TURNS.”
Photo by Mike Burroughs
drift will become the first series in the
39-year history of the LBGP to be run
at night.
The fans are more than simply
spectators and they play a more
significant role in the outcome of the
competition than some realize. Judges
are not only scrutinizing every turn on
the track, but they’re also watching to
see how excited the fans get when
drivers push clouds of smoke into the
air.
The intent is to create as much smoke
as possible, and drivers set up their
cars to do exactly that.
“Essentially, in Long Beach the cars
are only going about 60 mph through
the course, but the rear wheels are
going about 120 [mph],” Forsberg
says. “The faster you can get the rear
tires spinning over ground speed, the
more smoke you’re going to generate.”
Each Formula Drift driver expresses
himself in his own way, whether it’s in
the way they drive, modifications made
to the car, what they wear or even with
Photo by Larry Chen / FormulaD.com
Ryan Tuerck (left) and Chris Forsberg (above) will be gunning for the grand prize in a top 16,
all-star event during the Long Beach Grand Prix Superdrift Challenge.
how they interact with fans on and off
the track.
“This is self-expression and it’s freedom,”
says Formula Drift announcer Jarod
DeAnda.
The man considered to be the voice of
Formula Drift has been with the series
since day one. DeAnda has seen the
sport evolve and progress over the
years. Although the sport is becoming
more mainstream and accepted by
other motorsport fans, he says that the
rebellious and true spirit of Drift culture
remains. What you see on the course is
a reflection of the drivers’ personalities
and of the Drift culture.
Many of the drivers have crossed over
from BMX, skateboarding or other action
sports. That adrenaline-junkie spirit can
be seen on the track, where drivers are
constantly pushing the boundaries.
Forsberg describes the Drift community
as a tight-knit. He has seen competitors
on the professional circuit help each
other out and lend spare parts. He
says “it’s all about getting everyone out
on track and having a fair competition”.
When the engines are turned off, and
the smoke clears, Tuerck keeps his
adrenaline withdrawals at bay with
off-course extracurricular activities. In
an online series produced by Network
A called “Tuerck’d,” the young driver
can be seen snaking through country
roads in New Hampshire, drifting
through a skate park, or jumping over
a flaming pit in one of his custom-built
cars. Forsberg occasionally joins in on
the fun, and in one episode the guys
create a drifting game where they have
to graze barrels with their bumpers
and parallel park a car while drifting at
high speeds.
Formula Drift may be considered the
stepchild of motorsports, but after
10 years the series has become the
fastest-growing motorsport in the
world. And on April 19 and 20, Formula
Drift drivers will be competing for prizes
totaling $25,000.
“We’ve gone from something that
traditional racing fans did not respect
at all, and now we’ve legitimized
ourselves a lot more,” Liaw says.

motorsport events happening in long beach, on and off the track:
FORMULA DRIFT LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX
// Wednesday, April 10 //
Drivers will be exhibiting their cars and hanging out
with the locals at the following venues:
•Pike Restaurant and Bar - 1836 E. 4th St., Long Beach
• Legends Sports Bar and Cal Shabu on 2nd Street.
// April 12-13 //
Formula Drift breaks in the Long Beach Grand Prix
track during the Round 1 competition of the
Formula Drift series.
// Friday, April 12 //
12:00 p.m. Gates Open & Qualifying
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Autograph Signing Session
// Saturday, April 13 //
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Formula Drift Main Competition
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Trophy Ceremony & Closing
Go to formulad.com for information and tickets.
Formula Drift drivers mimic their opponent
and try to stay as close as possible to each
other during tandem head-to-head battles.
Photo by Larry Chen // FormulaD.com.
// April 19-21 //
The Long Beach Grand Prix hosts a variety of series
on both days, from the Indy Car series to the
Le Mans series.
// Friday, April 19 //
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Race Practice
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. American Le Mans Series Qualifying
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Super Drift Challenge
// Saturday, April 20 //
2:00 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Qualifying
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. American Le Mans Series Race
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Super Drift Challenge
// Sunday, April 21 //
11:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Stadium SUPER Trucks
1:40 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Round #3 of IZOD IndyCar Series
3:55 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. Formula Drift Demonstration
Go to gplb.com for a complete schedule and tickets.
77

DROP
GOODS
GIVING BACK ONE
BRACELET AT A TIME
BY JOSH ESqUEDA AND AmY PATTON
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN CASTILLO
Headquartered in a Cal State Long
Beach dorm room, DropGoods
founders Jordan Seggman and
Salam Zahour try to make the world a
better place, one bracelet at a time.
Junior fashion merchandise major
Seggman works with business partner
Zahour to hand-produce the colorful cotton
bracelets. They donate more than 30
percent of the profits to charity programs.
Proudly wearing the original prototype
8
bracelet he hand-sewed, Seggman’s eyes
come to life as he describes his company.
“It’s my baby,” he said. Fueled by his own
ambition and maxed out credit cards, he
started the company from the ground up.
Inspired by companies like TOMS shoes,
Seggman continues to nurture the brand
almost a year after starting the company
in 2012.
“I am a young man with a passion for
fashion, as well as a heart to give back,”
Seggman said.
Seggman started the brand in order to send
a positive message out into the fashion
industry. When creating the name, he knew
he wanted the name to give off a good vibe
before people even knew what the brand
was about. He chose the word “good”
because commercially it would allow him
to expand further than wristbands. “Drop”

One hundred limited edition bracelets are hand-sewn every month to raise money for different charities.
was already a word he was fond of using
in his previous brands and he liked the
way it sounded. After pages and pages of
brainstorming, a brand was born.
Relaunching this month, DropGoods will
no longer write a charitable check to an
anonymous organization in need. Instead,
each month will focus on a new bracelet
and a new story. At the beginning of each
month, Seggman and Zahour will select a
specific person or group in need and create
a video to share their story.
Seggman felt that sending off a check at
the end of each month was too much of
a cop out; he wasn’t seeing the effects of
his hard work. He wanted a way to show
customers what their money was going
towards and “hopefully inspire random acts
of kindness in them.”
After selling the first batch of bracelets
in his first month, Seggman chose three
different organizations to donate to: Gem,
Matthew 25 Ministries and an organization
dedicated to breast cancer.
“I chose where to donate based on what I
have a passion for,” he said.
Because his grandmother and several
close friends have battled breast cancer,
this was a charity that he felt strongly
about. But he didn’t feel like it was enough
and he wanted to do more and get more
involved with the people he was helping.
When Seggman first launched DropGoods
on his own in last December, he sold 60
bracelets in the first two weeks. Originally
a business major, designing a bracelet
was no easy task for Seggman. It took 36
different designs before he could find one
he was happy with.
“It was pretty hilarious,” he said, describing
some of the first designs.
He partnered up with Zahour after selling
his first batch. Zahour was a customer
and was impressed with the product.
Having business experience as a manager
at clothing brand, Active, Zahour gave
Seggman advice through email for weeks
before they both decided to officially
partner up.
Seggman and Zahour produce 100
bracelets of single design at the beginning
of each month. Bracelets are sold through
the official DropGoods website until they
run out. Once a bracelet design is gone,
it will not be brought back ever again.
This way the bracelets are limited edition.
Seggman came up with the idea of selling
limited edition bracelets because a lot of
the brands he admires often do this too.
“I want the bracelet to be something you
can be proud of,” he said.
He explained that making each bracelet
design limited allows them to stand out.
When choosing a design for the bracelets,
Seggman goes for abstract patterns. He
gets inspiration from popular trends, like
animal and Native American prints. Once
he finds a print he likes, he buys two yards
of the fabric and makes as many bracelets
from it as possible.
Seggman initially created a Craigslist ad to
find someone to produce large batches of
bracelets at one time. Gayle from Ontario
answered the ad and produced the first
batch for the company’s December launch,
but had to quit due to other employment.
Zahour’s connections with Active allowed
DropGoods to partner with the Active
production company, and the bracelets are
now produced in Los Angeles.
Seggman wants to continue to grow and
develop DropGoods after graduation.
He eventually wants to get his products
into stores, or even open a wristband
shop where customers can create their
own custom bracelets. Big on social
media, Seggman and Zahour utilize their
Facebook page to reach out to customers
on the Web. They currently have about
1,400 followers and are still growing.
Friends and family alike have been
supportive of Seggman’s vision. Junior
communications major Ben Brickey has
known Seggman for two years and has
witnessed DropGoods develop from the
beginning stages.
“Jordan not only has a very creative mind,
but he is also an amazing friend,” Brickey
said. “And from day one he has had a
passion to help people. He knows his
calling is through fashion, and he will find a
way to help people with that calling.”
Seggman uses the classic stork image to
represent his brand.
9

Breasts. Boobs. Tits. Funbags. Milkjugs. Tatas.
Knockers. Puppies. Racks. Hooters. Melons.
You know them, you’ve seen them, but how
much do you know about the cancer that can
take the fun out of the bags?
Breast cancer is a devastating disease that
affects one in eight women and more than 2000
men annually.
Cal State Long Beach, a campus that is 58
percent female and 42 percent male, should be
100 percent aware of breast cancer basics. So
it’s about time we got down and dirty with the
details behind that pink ribbon we’ve come to
know so well.
It’s been several months since National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, so why bring up the
boobs in April?
On April 1, California jumped on the breast
cancer legislation bandwagon behind New
York, Texas, Connecticut and Virginia, requiring
mammographers to inform women if their breast
tissue is dense.
Dense breast tissue in women under 50 is
common, said breast surgeon Dr. John West,
M.D. of Breastlink Center in Orange.
When a woman is getting an annual
mammogram, dense tissue can make the results
more difficult to evaluate. In other words, it can
be a contributing factor to delayed diagnosis in
breast cancer.
“This new legislation is great,” he said. “There are
three caveats and it will help to change things. It
will let you know if your breast tissue is dense,
inform you that you’re at an increased risk, and
with that information you and your physician can
decide on alternative imaging.”
Aside from dense tissue, there are many more
contributing risk factors you can identify in order
to be proactive with your own health.
10
GET TO KNOW
YOUR BREASTS
New legislatioN
may help early
detectioN
By ariella rams and alison truax
The biggest risk factor is a family history of
breast or ovarian cancer.
“A first-degree relative is a red flag,” Dr. West
said. “A male relative is a huge red flag too.”
However, if a first-degree relative has suffered
from the cancer, it doesn’t necessarily mean you
carry the gene. New genetic testing has allowed
doctors to detect the presence of a cancer gene.
Having previous biopsies, chest radiation, longterm
and high-estrogen birth control use, alcohol
consumption, and obesity are linked to the risks
of breast cancer. So how can you be proactive
as a college student in keeping up on your
breast health?
The health center on campus offers well-woman
exams for anyone looking to stay on top of their
health, which includes a clinical breast exam. In
addition, the free and confidential Sexual Health
Awareness Workshop is offered at the Health
Resource Center on Mondays and Thursdays
throughout the spring semester.
“The SHAW workshops include a short
component on the well-woman exam,” explains
Emma Hawes, a student assistant for health
services. “Attendees are instructed on how to do
their own self-exams at home using a model and
short video.”
Photo by Karina Cornejo
Women of any age are susceptible to breast cancer and the scars that come with
it, but new legislation offers a greater chance of early detection.
Students who can’t make the workshops can
also download information that is presented at
the workshop from the Heath Resource Center
section of the CSULB website.
Since the 90s, breast cancer mortality rates
have continuously decreased. Prevention,
detection and awareness are all key in the push
to make those pink ribbons obsolete.
So as legislation and advancements move
forward, don’t hesitate to get to know your
breasts. Who knows, touching yourself could
save your life.

The “Go Green” trend goes beyond the
reusable water bottles, recycling, and
beach clean-ups.
It is a movement that launched on April 22,
1970 to fight for the Earth, raise awareness
of environmental problems, and give people
a sense of urgency to act upon them. Earth
Day is a representation of the strength
of this movement and the continuous
determination of honoring and protecting
the planet in order to make it a safe place
to live.
“Environmental problems do not go away
like an illness,” Associated Students, Inc.
Commissioner of Conservation Alben
Phung said. “They will persist and will
become a bigger problem if ignored.”
Cal State Long Beach has recognized the
importance of leaving a clean ecological
footprint, and has made it a priority to make
the campus eco-friendly. Refill stations are
available campus-wide for water bottles,
bike maintenance stations are available to
encourage students to bike to school, and
there are even solar panels that provide
electricity to Brotman Hall, the Facilities
Management Corporations Yard, and the
Vivian Engineering Center.
Projects and initiatives underway to make
CSULB a “green campus” include more
energy efficient lighting around campus, the
implementation of drip irrigations systems,
and the installation of more Electric Vehicle
charging units in parking lots across
campus.
“The job towards sustainability is really
never ever completed, so our efforts
continue,” CSULB energy and sustainability
manager Paul Wingco said.
Each year, the Environmental Science and
Policy Club on campus hosts an Earth Day
celebration known as Earth Week. Last
year, there was environmental information
tabling, along with an eco-friendly fashion
Earth day
Eco-friEndly campus EvEry day at csulB
By ViVian Gatica
show called (Eco)uture. The opening event
this year will be a Green Generation Mixer
where various speakers will demonstrate
their environmental projects, and show
how the CSULB and the city of Long Beach
have become more sustainable. The Earth
Day celebration will take place on April 18
from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a
Recycling Information and Green Job Fair
event on April 22.
“These programs present students with
information that will help them address
environmental issues, and lessen the
negative impact on the local environment
and the planet as a whole, as well as
opportunities to get involved and volunteer
with local environmental organizations
committed to sustainability and
improving the local environment,” CSULB
Environmental Science and Policy club
president Nicholas Thibeault said.
One of the highlights of Earth Week on
campus will be the Green Technology
Expo on April 29. Participants will display
a variety of creative green technology
projects in wind, solar, kinetic, and zero
waste technology. According to Phung, the
main purpose of the event is to expose
students to environmental projects that
they are not aware of.
“Technology is a neutral item, if people
do not know how to use it or know about
the technology then it is useless,” Phung
said. “We want to get students exposed to
these future technologies, as well as inspire
creativity in their everyday lives.”
This year, Earth Day will take place on
April 22, the day of the first celebrated
Earth Day more than 40 years ago. It is a
day to appreciate nature’s beauty and the
environment that surrounds us. Phung said
that CSULB’s Earth Day celebration is an
opportunity to enlighten the people living on
the Earth to take action to protect it.
“Every aspect of life has a strong
relationship with Earth,” Phung said. “We
need to be stewards of this Earth, and
to ensure that this natural beauty is not
destroyed by its own guests.”
“We need to be stewards of this Earth and
to ensure that this natural beauty is not
destroyed by its own guests.”
Photo by Amatullah Guyot
Senior communications major Mohammad Ahmad
refills his water bottle at one of the many refill
stations around campus.
11

A
12
music
mayhem
SXSW bringS together
muSicianS and fanS from
around the World.
by AngelA RAtzlAff
PhotoS by
AngelA RAtzlAff and
michelle RAtzlAff
The Black Angels drummer Stephanie Bailey hammers out heavy drum beats for the psychedelic Austin-Based band at the Scoot Inn
constant ringing in ears. Soles of feet
that feel like they have been run over
by bulldozers. A lack of sleep, strong
enough to make anyone feel discombobulated
or at least lost.
No, this isn’t a warzone. This is South by
Southwest, an annual film, music and interactive
festival that takes place in Austin, Texas and is
held during March.
SXSW was started in 1987 with the motive
of promoting local artists, musicians and
filmmakers from Austin to the outside world.
Now, almost 30 years later, the event rounds
up about 150,000 people to the music capital of
America every year.
This year’s festivities started on March 8 with
interactive and film elements that filled the
streets of Downtown Austin with tech geeks and
film enthusiasts.
After almost a week of high-tech conventions,
panels and expos, hoards of musicians, music
publicists and fans took over for the music
portion, filing into the nearly 200 live venues that
Austin has to offer.
“People are here, and they are hungry for
music,” Austin resident Alejandro Rose Garcia,
better known by his stage name Shakey Graves,
said. “As a musician, it’s a great opportunity to
play in front of people I would never get to see
otherwise.”
Garcia plays soul-filled Southern folk music,
complete with a suitcase kick drum, tambourine
and electric hollowbody guitar. This year marks
Garcia’s second SXSW, and he had seven
shows scheduled during the festival.
“Basically the city turns into a kind of, as one
of my friends put it, like a band summer camp,
like adult summer camp basically,” he said after
Seattle soul man takes Austin back in time with his 1970s-inspired tunes.
having played a 20 minute set at the dive bar
Antone’s. “I mean there’s delicious free food
everywhere, I have a pile of koozies in my car,
there’s a lot of fun objects to take away.”
By day, the Austin Convention Center, located in
the heart of Downtown, filled its ballrooms with
musicians and gear-heads looking to take a
peek into the latest music technology.
Keynote speaker and Foo Fighters front man
Dave Grohl easily sat 2,000 people in Ballroom
D on the morning of March 14. His speech,
which inspired individual creativity and finding a
unique voice, kicked off the music festivities on
a high note.
After visiting the convention center, attendees hit
the streets to take a peek into the current music
scene. Bands packed venues, restaurants and
bars with young hipsters and seasoned music
lovers. Musicians played on sidewalks, in
houses, in back yards and on the back of truck
beds. Even Jack White’s Third Man Records
Rolling Record Store drove in live music,
including Third Man artists Pujol and Pokey
LaFarge, as well as physical copies of music for
fans like Austin resident Cameron Weed to take
home.
“I’ve been part of the [Third Man Records] vault
subscription series since the start when they
first opened Third Man, so it’s just one of those
things whenever I can kind of come out and
support them and listen to new music, I do it,”
Weed said sitting outside the bright yellow truck.
It is impossible to walk outside and not hear

five songs within one block. Bands like
Shakey Graves, Seattle soul man Allen Stone,
psychedelic rock group the Black Angeles, Los
Angeles rock ‘n’ rollers Eagles of Death Metal
or Long Beach natives Cold War Kids filled the
tobacco-kissed and beer-stenched daylight with
muffled sounds of music. The music wasn’t
limited to rock and folk, however. Hip-hop,
rap, soul, gospel, blues, techno, experimental,
classical, jazz, metal, punk rock, psychedelic
rock, surf rock, prog rock and every other genre
in-between could be heard Downtown and
throughout Austin neighborhoods.
“Just with the sheer amount of music, you’re
going to stumble on to something,” Weed, who
has attended the festival for 12 years, said.
“What I do like is you can see some of these
bigger bands in much smaller venues than
they’ll normally play.”
Bigger acts, like Foo Fighters and Sound City
Players, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Nick Cave,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Wiz Khalifa formed
snaking lines outside of smaller venues after
the sun went down. With attendance for the
big shows determined by random drawings,
hopefuls with full credentials and platinum
badges still had to wait outside for hours to have
a shot at getting in.
Surprise appearances, however, like Erykah
Badu who joined the Robert Glasper Experiment
on Friday night, shocked fans and gave them a
close up performance they would never forget.
Los Angeles resident Hannah Haines broke
down in tears after watching Badu perform from
inches away.
“She’s basically like the reason why I live,
basically it was amazing,” Haines said. “I love her.
She has an insanely beautiful voice. It helps you
when you’re happy, and it helps you when you’re
sad. You can listen to it all the time.”
After hours, Sixth Street, most known for the
string bars chained to each other, comes alive.
The scent of weed burns nostrils while music
booms out of each passing venue. A mass of
young music enthusiasts crawls down the street
like a heard of sheep guided by neon signs. By
3 a.m., ears are plugged from pounding music
while groups of people chase after cabs and
buses to rest for the next day of music mayhem.
“Like any sort of art it’s just an expression that
can really get people together and have one of
those unified experiences, you go to a concert
you’re going to see it with a bunch of people,”
Weed said. “I just like going to shows and
experiencing it with other people and having that
moment.”
Soul songstress Erykah Badu shocks audience members with a surprise
appearance with the Robert Glasper Experience.
Bands to look out for
austin locals
the ghost Wolves
the blueS-rock duo made of guitariSt
carley Wolf and drummer Jonathon Wolf
SPillS out SloPPy reverb and electrifying
vocalS.
shAkey gRAves
a one man act, graveS hoWlS out Soulfilled
folk While StomPing on a SuitcaSe
baSS drum and tambourine.
the BlAck Angels
the PSychedelic rock grouP conJureS
uP 1960S imagery With their fuzzed
guitarS and keyboard, Which are backed
uP by thumPing drumS, maracaS and
tambourineS.
soul and r&B
Allen stone
Seattle’S Soul muSician bringS hiS muSic
to life With vivaciouS dance moveS and
vocalS that could melt any r&b lover’S
heart.
the RoBeRt glAspeR expeRiment
teXaS muSician robert glaSPer Put
together thiS Jazz-funk Jam band, Which
featureS artiStS like vocaliSt and
SaXoPhone Player caSey benJamin, baSSiSt
derrick hodge and drummer chriS dave.
rock ‘n’ roll
eAgles of DeAth metAl
the loS angeleS rockerS, Who Play muSic
SPecifically for the ladieS and the godS
of rock ‘n’ roll, get bootieS Shaking With
their uPbeat temPoS and guitar-heavy
SongS.
pujol
fronted by tenneSSee muSician daniel
PuJol, the Punk rock grouP ShredS out
faSt SongS With heavy-Weighted guitarS.
lAnteRn
PhiladelPhia’S blueS-Punk trio hammerS
out ferociouS renditionS of claSSic delta
muSic aS Well aS uPbeat Punk rock.
13

oPeninG day
dodgerS Stadium
vs. angelS Stadium
by mAttheW sousA
and lyzette sAlWAy
The sound of a ball being knocked out
of the park with thousands of fans
cheering, the echoes of an umpire
yelling “steee-rike,” and the taste of a flavorful
hotdog with an ice-cold beer in hand can
only mean one thing- Major League Baseball
season is back in full swing. The Los Angeles
Dodgers opened their season April 1 by
squaring off against the San Francisco Giants
at Dodger Stadium. The Los Angeles Angels
of Anaheim will have their first home game,
against the Oakland Athletics, on April 9. If
there’s one rule regarding America’s favorite
pastime, it’s to always root for the home team.
But with two home teams in the area, who
do you root for? We’ve put together a list of
information and prices to help local baseball
fans choose between the Dodger or Angel
experience this season.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
FOR FALL 2013
PICK UP AN APPLICATION IN SSPA 004
APPLICATION DUE
APRIL 10 @ 5PM
magazine
QUESTION ABOUT THE POSITION?
CONTACT SASHA MILENA
DIGMAGEDITOR@GMAIL.COM
562.212.8017
dodGers
Location: Los Angeles
Year Built: 1962
Capacity: 56,000
View: San Gabriel Mountains
General Tickets from $10 up
All You Can Eat Pavilion $30-40
Dodger Dog (Farmer John) $5
Peanuts $5.75
Cracker Jacks $3.75
ICEE $6.50
Bottled Water $4 and $6
Draft Beer: Large $10.25
Margarita $11
stADium
tickets
fooD
BeveRAges
anGels
Location: Anaheim
Year Built:1966
Capacity: 45,050
View: 57 Freeway
General Tickets from $11.50 up
All You Can Eat Pavilion Not Offered
Angel Dog (Wienershnitzel) $4.50
Peanuts $2.50 and $6.50
Cracker Jacks $3.50
ICEE $4.50
Bottled Water $3.75
Draft Beer: Large $9
Mike’s Hard Lemonade $8.25

22
29
1 April Fool’s Day
1 - 30 Belmont Shore/Naples Scavenger Hunt | Belmont Shore | 12 am
2 Alkaline Trio | Fingerprints | 7 pm
3 Los Angeles Dodgers v. San Francisco Giants | Dodgers Stadium | 7:10 pm
4 Chockablock | University Art Museum | 12 pm-5 pm
5 Long Beach Downtown Farmer’s Market | City Place Center | 10 am- 4pm
5 Feeding People | Fingerprints | 7 pm
6 Significant Ordinaries | University Art Museum | 12 pm-5 pm
8 Donald P. Lauda Wellness Lecture | Walter Pyramid | 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
9 Dirtbags vs. San Diego State | Long Beach | 6 pm
10 West Side Story | Pantages Theatre | 8pm
11 Don Giovanni | University Link Theatre | 8 pm
12-13 Formula Drift Round 1 | Downtown Long Beach
12-14/ 19-21 Coachella Music Festival | Coachella Valley
13 Los Angeles Kings v. Anaheim Ducks | Staples Center | 8 pm
14 D.R.I | The Observatory | 9 pm
19 - 21
09
12 - 14
19 - 21
15 Women’s Golf Fresno State Tournament | Copper River Country Club
16 The Music Guild | Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall | 8 pm
18 KROQ Presents Green Day | Los Angeles Sports Arena | 7:30 pm
19 Men’s Golf Winchester Classic | Winchester Country Club
19-21 Toyota Grand Prix 2013 | Downtown Long Beach
20 Record Store Day | Fingerprints
21 Monthly Tasting | Venissimo Cheese | 12 pm-2 pm
22 Earth Day
24 Bass Drum of Death | Bootleg Bar | 9 pm
25 Jeff Bridges | El Rey Theatre | 7 pm
26 SOJA | Club Nokia | 7:50 pm
27 Long Beach Symphony Orchestra Symphony Classics | Long Beach
Convention Center | 8 pm
29 Green Technology Expo | USU Ballrooms | 10 am -3 pm
30 Jojo featuring Austin Brown | Tru Hollywood | 7:30 pm
15

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