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Protesting windowless housing UCSB students march against Munger Hall design, university responds to national criticism
Indoor masking mandate extended Businesses prepare to follow health order Editor’s note: Forrest McFarland has joined the News-Press as a writer. By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Local businesses are gearing up for another month of indoor masking mandates. On Thursday, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department extended a health officer order, which requires all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings at indoor public settings. The order took effect at 5 p.m. Thursday and continues until 5 p.m. Dec. 4 or until it is extended or rescinded. Right now, public health officers are using a key metric to determine how far-reaching the mask mandates ought to be — the number of new cases per 100,000. According to the County Public Health Department, the case rate should be six or fewer cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks for local health officials to consider changing this mandate. As of Oct. 23, the county has a case rate of 10 per 100,000. Please see MASKS on A3
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UCSB students protesting their administration’s handling of the student housing shortage and the proposed Munger Hall march on campus towards Storke Tower.
Goleta files suit against UCSB over housing By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
The UCSB housing shortage has set the stage for a student protest, uncertainty for students living in hotels, a criticized residence hall design and now a lawsuit. The Goleta City Council has directed its attorneys to file a suit against UCSB for, in the city’s words, “failing to provide student housing for its burgeoning student population.” The council announced the suit at a meeting Friday. “I am disappointed that it has come to this because the City of Goleta has always had a good relationship with UCSB,” Mayor Paula Perotte said in a statement Friday. “However, the failure of UCSB to meet its obligations under the 2010 Long Range Development Plan Settlement Agreement to provide housing has made us reach a breaking point.” According to the City of Goleta, UCSB has breached the settlement agreement since 2015 by failing to provide enough housing for its students. The City of Goleta contends that the lack of UCSB housing leads students to live in neighboring Goleta. The city says that means less housing for the city’s workforce, including nurses, teachers and public safety officers, who then must live elsewhere and commute to work in Goleta. In addition, the City of Goleta contends that the presence of students in hotel rooms means less tax revenues for the city. “Increased enrollment at UCSB also generates a greater demand on Goleta’s public resources and services,” the city said. “There is no foreseeable end in sight for these negative impacts on Goleta.” On Friday, UCSB students protested against the lack of housing, as well as the windowless residences in the proposed Munger Hall design. The 4,500-unit dorm was also on Mayor Perotte’s mind. She said the city is concerned that the scrutiny of Munger Hall in the national press leaves uncertainty whether “the needed student housing will be built in a reasonable time frame.” email: dmason@newspress.com
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
“No windows, no way.” That was one of the signs as UCSB students rallied Friday in protest of the university’s plans to build an 11-story, largely windowless residence building named Munger Hall. A large number gathered on campus, where they listened to speakers in front of the library and
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More states join lawsuits against the Biden administration over its vaccination mandate for companies with 100 or more employees. A3
Job growth exceeds experts’ expectations By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORT
(The Center Square) — Newly released federal data showed significant job growth for the month of October, a refreshing sign for economists after months of lagging job reports. The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released their monthly jobs report Friday showing that in October, payroll employment rose by 531,000, putting job creation above experts’ predictions. “Job growth was widespread, with notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in manufacturing, and in transportation and warehousing. Employment in public education declined over the month,” the Please see JOBS on A4
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but incorporates an artificial light source programmed to circadian rhythm. Fresh air will be pumped in at twice the rate of building and mechanical code standards. Mr. Munger donated $200 million to UCSB, requiring his designs to be followed exactly. The project is estimated to cost $1.4 billion. Navy Banvard, the managing principal of Van Tilburg, Banvard, and Soderbergh, AIA, refined Mr. Please see PROTEST on A2
Students gather in front of the UCSB library, where they heard speakers and carried signs such as one saying, “We are not sardines.”
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marched toward Storke Tower. They made themselves seen and heard, chanting against the hall and carrying signs such as this one: “We are not a social experiment: We demand livable housing.” Another sign referred to the windowless rooms by saying “We are not sardines.” The building, designed by 97year-old billionaire and amateur architect Charlie Munger, does not include windows in student rooms
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 14-15-37-40-47 Mega: 4
Friday’s DAILY 4: 8-9-6-4
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 10-15-20-66-68 Mega: 18
Friday’s FANTASY 5: 4-6-13-30-34
Friday’s DAILY DERBY: 09-11-02 Time: 1:45.73
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 1-2-24-50-57 Meganumber: 26
Friday’s DAILY 3: 2-9-0 / Midday 1-9-7