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Grace Lawson

Grace Lawson is currently a senior at CSU Long Beach, majoring in Journalism and minoring in English Literature. Currently working as the Community Engagement Manager for the Long Beach Current. 

DIG •

A CSULB Librarian’s Top 5 Favorite Banned or Challenged Books — DIG

When Cathy Outten, a current librarian at Cal State Long Beach, was a student at UCLA 25 years ago, she took a course about intellectual freedom. The professor teaching that course asked Outten’s class a question that has stayed in her mind since: Who decides what information you have access to? “If somebody comes in and says you can’t have this book anymore, maybe sometimes you agree with them, maybe sometimes you don’t. But who gets to make that decision?” said Outten. And as the phenomenon of...
Long Beach Current •

Dear interim president: The stakes are high

This school year has already proven itself to be unlike any other, with construction ongoing on campus, the closure of the University Student Union, parking frustrations, record-high enrollment and the announcement of a new interim president.  
Former President Jane Close Conoley had a very controversial presence on campus, and last year’s spring semester, the Current published an editorial that addressed Conoley’s strengths and shortcomings as a leader, as well as what students expected from a...
Long Beach Current •

Enough is enough: ICE raids have no place in our communities

For over two months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have impacted communities nationally — especially the Southern California region. 
Forms of retaliation against these raids were initiated in the downtown Los Angeles area. Since then, ICE has maintained a constant presence in most Southern California cities, including Long Beach.
These raids targeting not only undocumented citizens but also Latin Americans without proof of documentation status is an alarming sign that the curre...
Long Beach Current •

Despite USU setback, Re:wild seeks to continue campus green space preservation

As the end of the school year approaches and the University Student Union’s final days loom over the student body, the Re:wild club on campus is saying goodbye to its Pilot project. 
Having focused on advocacy of ecological sustainability at Long Beach State since its formation three years ago, the Re:wild’s Pilot project removed the invasive plant species, English ivy, and re-planted native species across plant beds on the upper floor of the USU across from the Bell Tower.
In light of finding o...
Long Beach Current •

Places to explore in Long Beach this grad season

Unique locally owned shops, an array of entertainment options, plenty of fun foodie spots and all just minutes from the waterfront.
Long Beach didn’t garner its reputation as a meet-up mecca for nothing. 
Boasting colorful pockets of hang spots, the 127-year old shoreside city offers plenty for day trip visitors.
With graduation season here, visiting friends and family of Long Beach State graduates who find themselves with some time to kill and nowhere to go can now relax. Read on and explore th...
Long Beach Current •

Community engages with biodiversity preservation efforts through Marine Species Report Card

A guide outlining the history, location, residency and population trends of over 30 marine species in California since 1999 was launched to the public on Feb. 6 through the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Marine Species Report Card.
The same day, the Aquarium hosted a media day for different publications to cover the Report Cards launch. 
Now, a little over one month later, the Aquarium shared the report card’s intentions and highlighted eight of the featured species to the broader public through thi...
Long Beach Current •

Kleefeld’s Spring opening reception asks visitors to admire the abstract

Outside, in the museum’s courtyard, visitors mingled while enjoying drinks, food and playing cornhole on the grass.
But inside, visitors admired the art– including Macramé (a decorative textile created through knotting) intertwined with stained glass, a 9-minute audio visual film set on loop and a multitude of other abstract pieces exploring themes of indescribable experiences like senses and the nature of thought. 
On Thursday, Feb. 20 the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum held...
Long Beach Current •

Using feces to conserve the Southern Residents Killer Whales population

What’s black and white and wet all over?
This month’s installment of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s First Wednesdays lecture series focused on a community of Northeast Coast killer whales, including their evolution, social behaviors and current status as an endangered species.  
Titled “The Intelligence and Health of the Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales,” the lecture was given by guest speaker expert Deborah Giles, whose work focuses on the titular Southern killer whales.
Southern Resi...
Long Beach Current •

Professors reflect on election results and open campus conversations

As the morning of post-election day dawned on Nov. 6, Long Beach State students across campus could be observed huddled in groups, expressing their thoughts on the result of the 2024 election.
While some lectures were canceled for the week, others shifted to sharing sentiments about election outcomes – from presidential to California-based propositions to state officials and other national politics.
Though election results were freshly in the minds of the student body, professors were also weigh...
Long Beach Current •

Long Beach drag queen brings goals of inclusivity to community

From extravagant wigs to lip syncs and comedy sets, Drag Queen Jewels Long Beach has been in the local scene advocating for its entertainment, community and philanthropy for 26 years.
“Drag to me is freedom – it’s the freedom to be whoever and whenever you feel like in that moment, or that day, or that year, whenever it is,” Jewels said. “You create your own character and it’s the freedom to express yourself through gender and fun and glitter and sassiness, you know, whatever way you’re feeling...
Long Beach Current •

Long Beach State activists celebrate literary freedom for Banned Books Week

The issues and impacts of book bans across the United States was addressed in the panel, “Celebrate Our Freedom to Read,” on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Long Beach State University Library.
Held by author Elena K. Arnold and faculty member Lindsay Perez Huber, the panel spoke to a multitude of students, Long Beach residents and faculty.
The audience sat with intrigue as the panelists discussed their knowledge and beliefs of the harmful nature of book bans and the erasure of representation in the m...
Long Beach Current •

Long Beach clears homeless encampments, what’s next for the unhoused

The city of Long Beach has officially begun clearing homeless encampments in the downtown area as the Supreme Court’s overturning of legal protections for unhoused people makes it possible to fine and arrest people sleeping in public places. 
Based on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in late June, California and other western states were granted the right to begin clearing homeless encampments from public places. 
According to a report from the Department of U.S. Housing and Urban Development, ther...
The Collegian •

Student art showcased in L.H. Horton Gallery — The Collegian

The 25th annual Student Art Exhibit and awards ceremony held its opening reception on the evening of May 5. It features student art created over the past academic year. The exhibition will run through May 10. 


The exhibition features art done in an array of multimedia styles, including, sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, as well as digital art and photography. 

The exhibition is featured during the spring semester, allowing students the opportunity to create a full body of...
The Collegian •

Tom's Used Books: A hidden gem in downtown Lodi — The Collegian

Across from the movie theater in downtown Lodi on School Street are the big storefront windows of “Tom’s Used Books,”where it’s likely you’ll find cats lounging around on the many bookshelves lining the length of the shop.


The store has been open since 1996, owned and operated by Tom Kohlhepp, where it was originally called “Tom’s Books” electing to call it what it was.



Slowly over time, as the business has grown, with its large array of used books, so has the name.


“Well I always wan...