Hive Insider: Foreign affairs, protests and more

Hosts Samuel Bierdeman, Maya Denaé Taylor, Lizeth Tello and Claire Muñoz discuss the latest news on campus

Sam Bierdeman, Maya Denaé Taylor, Lizeth Tello, and Claire Muñoz • December 5, 2025

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In this episode of Hive Insider, hosts Samuel Bierdeman, Maya Denaé Taylor, Lizeth Tello and Claire Muñoz discuss the latest news on campus from the last two weeks.

The hosts discuss the forum held by the Consul General of Mexico here on campus, protests at the library quad over the new first-year housing requirement, President Luke Wood’s salary increase, the new Ummah Belonging Map and the resident wildlife on campus.

Show notes:Sac State soft launches first of its kind Ummah Belonging Map

Students protest new first-year housing requirement at Sacramento State

Mexican Consul General urges Sac State students to lead with empathy and authenticity

BREAKING: President Luke Wood to receive 6% salary increase – The State Hornet

Wildlife roaming Sacramento State: Beloved mascots or campus menace?

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About the Contributors

Sam Bierdeman, Podcast Staffer

(he/him) Sam Bierdeman is a senior journalism major in his first semester at The State Hornet as a podcast staffer. He likes to listen to music, play video games and talk about sports.

Maya Denaé Taylor, Magazine Editor

(she/they) Maya Denaé Taylor is a fourth-year journalism major and philosophy minor in their second semester at The State Hornet. She has previously worked as a co-host and producer for The Student Impact Report with the Student Basic Needs Coalition and station manager at KSSU. Outside the newsroom, she works as the vice president of Her Campus and creates content on Instagram and Youtube. Furthermore, they were a 2025 Justice for Black Girls Black Girlhood Studies Fellow, where she was able to expand upon her deep interest in Black feminist theory and literature.

Lizeth Tello, Copy Editor

(she/her) Lizeth Tello is a senior journalism major from Orange County entering her third and final semester at The State Hornet as a copy editor. She was previously a news staffer, reporting on various on-campus topics ranging from the school budget to protests and more. She is passionate about storytelling and is excited to share her knowledge with The State Hornet staff. Other places her work has appeared in include Saddleback College’s Lariat newspaper, WALL Literary Journal 2022 and 2023 edition, October Hill Magazine, The Sacramento Observer and PBS KVIE Abridged. She hopes to continue a career in editing and storytelling.

Claire Muñoz, Social Media Staffer

(she/her) Claire Muñoz is a second-year double majoring in graphic design and journalism. This is her first semester in The State Hornet, and she is excited to share what the Sacramento region has to offer through The State Hornet’s social media platforms. She is also currently a design and social media student assistant for Cal Fire’s Talent Acquisition and Outreach team, where she continues to grow her skills in social media, graphic design and photography. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in fashion journalism, specifically in layout design.