Volume 7 Issue 12 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

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Associated Students, UC Santa Barbara Volume 7, Issue 12 | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5, 2013

BOTTOM LINE

Students Protest Evictions of Local Families by PRABHJOT SINGH On Friday, Jan. 25, University of California, Santa Barbara students protested and picketed outside of 781 Embarcadero del Norte in Isla Vista in response to the recent evictions of IV families from the apartment building by the manager, Matthew Platler. The protest, entitled “Picketing to Protect” and organized by Isla Vista Tenants Union (IVTU), lasted about three hours and caught the attention of many passersby and drivers, who honked their support for the protesters. The protesters, holding signs that read, “People over Profit,” “Mi Casa es Su Casa,” “Families and Students Unite,” and “Protect the People,” chanted, “These are families, not commodities!” Since the past summer, 16 families have been evicted from the apartment building without receiving adequate notice, in order to make the units available to rent out to students at higher prices. Holding a picket sign with the words “Right To Live” painted on it, third-year global studies major Norma Orozco, protested at the event. “I want to get out the word and let the landowner, as well as the students, know that we are not going to be silenced. It’s an unjust eviction of families who live here and who are a part of this community,” said Orozco. Platler Capital Management purchased the apartment complex in April, and soon after, eviction notices were sent out. The company also began construction in the building, which upset many residents due to the lack of notice and the unlivable conditions they were subject to. Tenants then approached IVTU for assistance. IVTU started working with the tenants and advocating on their behalf. IVTU and IV Community Advisor Hilary Kleger are currently working to help get the ten-

ants compensation through Ordinance 4444, which increases rights for renters who are evicted through no fault of their own and may allow them to receive compensation. “Technically, the landlord has a right to evict them and do remodeling but we want the county to understand that it’s not just or fair and it’s not good for the community to evict families,” said Kleger. “It’s a real detriment to our society.” Lorena Garcia, one of the people who were evicted from the building, also showed up at the protest and shared her experience. “My husband and I had been living there since 1995, almost 17 years,” said Garcia, translated from Spanish to English. “When we were evicted, we were not given enough time to find another place to live and we ended up living out of a garage, where we are still staying. They would come to my home while I was at work and harass my husband, who has Alzheimer’s. They would ask when we would give them the key and leave, even though we still had time left before we had to leave. I was always worried and sometimes I wouldn’t eat or sleep because I was so worried. It was a horrible situation, very inhumane.” IVTU and other protesters stressed the fact that they believe this is happening due to the likelihood that the landlord could get students to pay higher rent. Therefore, IVTU wants students to be more aware of what is happening in their own neighborhood so that they can make informed decisions. “Evictions of families are becoming a large part of IV because of the demand for student rent because students pay higher rent,” said secondyear political science major Linda Gonzalez. “I think it’s ridiculous that they’re trying to exploit us. They’re not only hurting families, they’re also hurting students.” Currently, IVTU is working on a complaint to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing in regard to the evictions.

“Evictions of families are becoming a large part of IV because of the demand for student rent because students pay higher rent ...They’re not only hurting families, they’re also hurting students.” - Linda Gonzalez, second-year

- Hilary Kleger, IVTU and IV Community Advisor photo by PRABHJOT SINGH | The Bottom Line Students protesting the eviction of Isla Vista families on Embarcadero del Norte.

Early Morning Del Playa Burglar Apprehended by THOMAS ALEXANDER Isla Vista Beat Reporter Isla Vista Foot Patrol took Santa Barbara City College student Oliver Lim into custody early Sunday morning as he left the scene of a residential burglary. Lim, 18, was caught in the possession of a slew of stolen items including a GPS unit, a Samsung TV monitor, credit cards, various electronic devices, cell phones, U.S. currency, prescription medication, and checks. He faces charges of residential burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, petty theft, and resisting arrest, and his bail is set at $50,000. Police responded to the 6500 block of Del Playa around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday morning after residents reported that Lim was burglarizing their home. Upon arriving at the scene, police

found a suspect leaving the area who fit the victim’s description of the perpetrator. The suspect, later identified as Lim, fled the scene on foot with officers and deputies in hot pursuit. Officers eventually managed to chase Lim down and he was taken into custody accordingly. Lim will be held in Santa Barbara County Jail pending bail, and he is to be tried on felony charges. In response to recent burglaries, the IV Foot Patrol is working with University of California, Santa Barbara Associated Students along with local businesses and residents in an anti-crime regime known as the “Stop the Burgs” program. The initiative aims to promote crime-deterrent practices by reminding students and residents to lock their doors and windows and to keep their valuables out of view. Police have urged Isla Vista residents to report any suspicious activity to 911.

It Takes a Village to Raise an Urban Forest

Community Discusses Preserving Natural Landscape

photo by JULIAN MOORE | The Bottom Line

Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation asks community members to share their visions for the future of our area’s natural enviornment. by CHEYENNE JOHNSON Staff Writer Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation gave a presentation on local trees and their future in Santa Barbara last Thursday, Jan. 24. Speaking to a small group in the Faulkner Room of the Santa Barbara Public Library, SB Parks and Recreation offered the public information on the “Urban Forest” in the local community. “Urban Forest” refers to the collection of trees, shrubbery, and other forms of plant life that grow throughout SB and help ensure the aesthetic and environmental value of the area. “Santa Barbara is defined in many aspects by the trees that were planted a hundred years ago, by the trees we continue to plant today, by the trees we protect,” said Jill Zachary, Assistant

UCSB Cop Assists in Drug Smugglers’ Arrest see page 2

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Parks and Recreation Director. “When you picture Santa Barbara, there’s always a tree in the picture. When you see anything of Santa Barbara, there’s something about the landscape that defines our place.” Fred Sweeney, a local architect, agreed that trees play a key role in perception and feeling of the SB area. “One of the things that makes us unique,” said Sweeney, “is how our landscape interplays with our architecture. The light and shadow that’s thrown onto those white washed walls and red tile roofs are part of our signature, who we are as a city.” While Parks and Recreation did occupy a portion of the meeting giving information, a key goal of the event was to hear from community members their concerns and questions regarding see URBAN FOREST | page 8

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5 Questions with SB Foodbank CEO

Mormon Polygamy and Hugh Hefner

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UCSB Undergrad Applications Pile Up, Break Record by ALLYSON WERNER A press release sent out on Jan. 18 revealed that the University of California, Santa Barbara has just received a record high number of applicants for Fall 2013. UCSB has received 76,026 applications for undergraduate admission, a drastic increase from the 68,818 received the previous year. Of those 76,026, 62,402 are from prospective first-year students and 13,637 are from prospective transfer students. Both temporary and full time staff members are working around the clock reading application after application. Fall 2012 also experienced a surge in applicants, followed by a surge in enrollment. The UCSB admissions office had a target enrollment of 4,375 first-year students for fall 2012. Instead, 4,741 freshmen are working to establish a presence on campus. Freshmen residence halls saw the transformation of singles to doubles and doubles to triples in order to accommodate the high numbers and the fight for classes, especially those lower division GEs, seems to be getting tougher and tougher every quarter. According to Christine Van Gieson, the Director of Admissions, UCSB aims to enroll 4,300 students in the fall of 2013, although she admits, as demonstrated by fall 2012 statistics, hitting a target is nearly impossible with such a large number of applicants. “Enrollment targets are set following consultation with an campus enrollment planning committee comprised of deans, faculty, and administrators, analysis of projected attendance and graduation, and assessment of campus resources,” said Van Gieson. Furthermore, target enrollment figures are subject to change throughout the year as new data and analysis appears. As an admissions counselor, incentive to meet the target enrollment is high. “The campus receives funding based upon the number of California resident students it expects to enroll. If we are way over the projection, then there is insufficient funding per student; if we are under the projection, there is the possibility of having to return funding to UC,” said Van Gieson. The number of undergraduate applicants increases every year; however, according to admissions counselor Lisa Caruso, “the admit rate usually hovers around 40 percent.” As a result, UCSB is admitting more and more students each year. It is unclear whether the admit rate will drop in order to avoid insufficient funding per student. The surge in applicants has also increased activity on campus. According to Sabrina Buchcik, a fourth year transfer student and visitor center intern, the center experienced a rush before the UC application due date on Nov. 1 and expects another rush of prospective students eager to tour the campus after decisions are released in mid-March. “The visitor center is hiring new tour guides for spring,” said Buchcik. Caruso said in her admissions presentation to prospective students that UCSB is “becoming more visible.” Both Van Gieson and Caruso feel the surge in applications is a positive reflection of UCSB’s growing prominence both nationally and internationally.

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National Blood Donation Month see page 6

Student reactions to U-mail/Outlook Switch see page 7

The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 2 | News

UCSB Officer Assists in Drug Smugglers’ Arrests by ADAM SHELLEY Staff Writer University of California, Santa Barbara Police Officer Jeff Lupo helped in an operation along with federal agents to intercept smugglers in a panga boat full of approximately 3,000 pounds of marijuana from entering the country. At a quarter past midnight on Dec. 12, the United States Coast Guard contacted the Santa Barbara County Emergency Communications Center and told them they were chasing an unidentified panga boat headed from the direction of San Nicholas Island toward the Santa Barbara coastline. The boat appeared to be heading toward somewhere between El Capitan State Beach and Gaviota State Beach, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara Sheriff ’s

Department. The array of personnel who responded to the initial call were the “Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’s Office Personnel from all [their] Stations including the three Sheriff ’s Office Patrol Canines along with personnel from the California Highway Patrol, [UCSB] Police Department and State Parks responded and assisted personnel from the United States Coast Guard, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and United States Customs and Border Protection—Border Patrol.” In addition, our very own UCSB Police Officer Jeff Lupo, who has been with the UCSB Police Department for five years, was working his 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. shift with the Isla Vista Foot Patrol when he was called in for support. The force then made their way to the area of Hollister Ranch Road, and conducted

a search there using canine units. Assistance was provided from a United States Coast Guard helicopter that scanned the dark beach with a spotlight, searching the brush for the smugglers. Shortly after, Officer Lupo and other personnel arrested eight individuals who were found hiding in the shrubbery. “No one said anything. They just kept their mouths shut. They acted like they didn’t speak English,” said Officer Lupo, according to Sgt. Rob Romero who wrote the report for the UCSB Office of Public Affairs. Later it was reported by the Santa Barbara Sheriff ’s department that five of the suspects had given Southern Californian addresses, and that three were said to have been from Mexico. Personnel continued the search, and around 8 a.m. that morning, found three additional suspects walking along the beach.

While the search was being conducted, the panga boat was investigated, and was found to have been carrying roughly 3,000 pounds of packaged marijuana. These types of boats are relatively small and maneuverable, making them choice for quick drugsmuggling operations. This boat in particular is believed to have come from Mexico. When the operation was completed, Officer Lupo escorted an injured suspect who had been bitten by a canine unit to the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, where he was then cleared to be taken with the others to the IVFP holding cells. “This is the first one of these I’ve been involved with,” said Lupo. “I just showed up and it was a collaborative effort. I followed the directions of the on-site supervisor and it was a success. When it was all said and done, it was a success.”

Baldwin Professors’ “Last Lecture” To Explore Joys and Sorrows of Human Sexuality by VIJAY MODI Staff Writer Professors Janice and John Baldwin’s are slated to give their take on a “last lecture”-style event this Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Isla Vista Theater. This annual event, produced by the Academic Affairs Board, aims to give students a chance to learn from their favorite faculty members in an environment that goes beyond the classroom, allowing professors to deliver some of that extra experience they have gained throughout their years and pass it on to the student body at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Baldwins, who have been teaching

at UCSB for over 45 years now, won this year’s nomination by a landslide. Their lecture, titled “Making the Best of Life & Love,” will be centered around the Baldwin’s experience in the field of human sexuality, which captured their interest while they were studying monkeys in Central and South America. “We care so much about human sexuality because it can be the source of so much joy—and unhappiness,” said Dr. Janice Baldwin. “Our ‘Last Lecture’ will explain what that means.” Their Human Sexuality course, part of the university’s sociology department, covers all the general aspects of human sexuality. Dr. Janice Baldwin recognizes that these issues are yet to be freely discussed in public.

TBL 2012-2013 Staff =

Allyson Werner, Prabjhot Singh, Cheyenne Johnson, Julian Moore, Adam Shelley, Vijay Modi, Marissa Perez, Robyn Weatherby, Annalise Domenighini, Matt Mersel, Christine Chillin, Alec Killoran, Anjali Shastry, Oxana Ermolova, Itzy Canales, Deanna Kim, Camila Martinez-Granata, Jordan Wolff, Kassandra Gutierrez, Michael Quintanilla, Courtney Hampton, Nura Gabbara, Clara Perez, Kyle Skinner

Photographers: this issue

Prabjhot Singh, Julian Moore, Abel Fernandez, Haley Paul, Ayeyi Aboagye, Vivian Escalante, Silvia Quach, Vince Agapito The Bottom Line is sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of California, Santa Barbara. All opinions expressed in TBL do not necessarily represent those of the staff, of A.S. or of UCSB. Published with support from Campus Progress/Center for American Progress (CampusProgress.org). All submissions, questions or comments may be directed to bottomlineucsb@gmail.com.

The Bottom Line is an alternative voice on campus.... We provide a printed and online space for student investigative journalism, culturally and socially aware commentary and engaging reporting that addresses the diverse concerns of our readership and community. This is your community to build, share ideas and publicize your issues and publicize events. We welcome your questions, comments or concerns at bottomlineucsb@gmail.com or call our office phone at 805-893-2440.

“It’s wonderful to share information with people that can help their lives in an area that still is somewhat taboo. I think that our course is popular because it does discuss this information,” she said. Saying that this course is popular could be an understatement, as it has been filled to the brim with almost 600 students every quarter for the last decade. Devised by the Associated Students Academic Affairs Board, the “Last Lecture” tradition was established during winter quarter of 2012 with Prof. Alan Fridlund honored as UCSB’s inaugural speaker. The tradition was inspired by Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch’s actual last lecture after learn-

ing that his pancreatic cancer had given him just months to live, according to an article in the New York Times. Last year’s first ever event resulted in a packed Embarcadero Hall. In the words of a UCSB student who posted on the Facebook event page, “Is the IV Theater big enough?”

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“It’s wonderful to share information with people that can help their lives in an area that still is somewhat taboo.”

Ban On Women’s Service in Combat Lifted Last Week by JULIAN MOORE National Beat Reporter Outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced late last week that he plans to lift the remaining ban on women’s service in combat operations, opening the door to thousands of new roles for women in the military. Since 1994, the Pentagon had officially proscribed women from serving in combat on the front lines, despite the fact that many women in the armed forces see fighting already. Today, the Pentagon says there are almost 200,000 women among active duty personnel, roughly 14 percent of all active duty military. Female enrollment in the armed forces took off in the mid-1960s, and today women make up over a fifth of the Air Force alone. According to the ACLU, the Pentagon’s current guidelines on servicewomen keep as many as 200,000 jobs out of reach for female soldiers. While Secretary Panetta said the policy banning women would be lifted immediately, he is giving the Armed Forces five branches up to three years to implement the changes. While women have been serving in combat, many have not been able to receive recognition similar to that of their male colleagues because of the Pentagon’s policy of not recognizing them as combat soldiers. Women’s roles in the military have undergone slow but gradual expansion since 1917 when women were first allowed to work as “yeomen” in the Navy. In 1977, famed civil rights lawyer Marjorie Mazen Smith successfully sued the Navy for pursuing a hiring policy based on gender discrimination. She argued another case in 1978 in which a federal judge declared the Navy’s ban on women serving on all ships a violation of the Fifth Amendment. But while the judge’s holding in the case opened the door for women to serve on Navy ships, it did not in-

clude warships and it wouldn’t be until 1998 that a woman would command a war vessel. Codified exclusion of women in the military originated in Title X of the United States Code and was finally repealed by Congress and President Clinton in 1993. But a year later, the rule was replaced by what became known as the Pentagon’s “Combat Exclusion Policy,” which said: “Service members are eligible to be assigned to all positions for which they are qualified, except that women shall be excluded from assignment to units below the brigade level whose primary mission is to engage in direct combat on the ground.” Women have still been in dangerous positions amidst combat for years. According to the Washington Post, as of 2012, 152 women have died in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of the most perilous combat roles include piloting helicopters, which women have been allowed to do since 1991 when Congress lifted a ban on women piloting aircrafts in the military. With last week’s announcement, the U.S. joins nations such as Israel, France, and Australia in officially putting women on the front lines. Even North Korea, a nation not often known as a bastion of social equality, has allowed women to serve in combat roles since 1972, according to the New York Times. While most lawmakers in Washington reacted positively to the news, Rep. Duncan Hunter, who represents a district that includes San Diego County, criticized the Pentagon’s move. Hunter told the Wall Street Journal that he was curious to know if physical standards would allow women to enter combat duty in large numbers. “The focus of our military needs to be maximizing combat effectiveness,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R., Calif.) told the Wall Street Journal. “The question here is whether this change will actually make our military better at operating in combat and killing the enemy, since that will be their job, too.”

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The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 3 | Features

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Photo by Abel Fernandez | The Bottom Line According to Santa Barbara’s Director of Animal Services, the housingchallenged are not are not at fault for the prevalence of stray dogs IN IV.

Quality of Life is Not Bad for the Canines of IV by ROBYN WEATHERBY Study partner, workout buddy, wingman, confidant: dogs play a huge role in the Isla Vista community. Recent reports, however, show that certain approaches to taking care of these furry friends may be more successful than others. “Animal Services picks up one or more of dogs weekly from the Isla Vista area,” said Director Jan Glick of Santa Barbara Animal Services. When asked who is to blame for letting dogs she said, “the animals are generally coming from the college student population.” Annually, she added, there is a wave of dog abandonment at the beginning of summer break. “It’s illegal, immoral, and it just shouldn’t happen,” Glick said. “Students need to consider if having a dog is right for their lifestyle.” “I don’t know if it’s for every dog, but it’s definitely for Tyson,” said fourth-year environmental studies major Eric Eulau of his dog Tyson’s IV lifestyle. “He probably roams around everyday, but he’s trained well-enough that he knows ATO is his home.” When Eric chose to adopt Tyson 3 years ago he did so because “it’s a college town, people are a lot more easy-going if

a dogs get out.” Dogs who do go astray and are later picked up by Animal Services typically look like Eulau’s Tyson—pitbull or pitbull mixes taking daytrips that are in violation of the Santa Barbara County leash law. “When we pick up a dog our goal is always to return them to the owner,” said Glick. If the owner cannot be contacted and the dog is impounded, there can be fees associated with retrieving said dog back if food and mandatory vaccinations are administered. One of the lifestyle choices Glick mentioned is your budget. When Eulau and I talked numbers, he said that the best-case scenario is that you spend around $600 for three years on start-up fees and maintenance of your dog. Then you need to factor in the cost of food, which can be around $30 monthly. Crandall said he typically “leaves Petco with a bill anywhere from $30 to $100.” If they get sick, which Eulau said occurred a lot in the beginning, a consultation is around $70 and an emergency room visit is $200. While Tyson is flourishing in the cooperative care of the fraternity house, Nathan Crandall, a fourth-year computer science major,

said “95 percent of the time it’s just me taking her out,” of his 11 month-old German Shepard Whitney. “I’m always worried I’m going to leave for an hour and come back and my housemates are feeding her beer,” Crandall said. Crandall has yet to walk in on Whitney doing a beer bong, but he did say that even after asking them to stop, “I would come home to a room filled with smoke.” “Students don’t realize that their housemates can be irresponsible when they put them in charge of their pet,” said Glick. Dog personalities are nearly as variable as the human ones in IV. Perhaps, there are housemates that can be trusted with a dog, and others for whom a goldfish is plenty to handle. I met Alpha, a sweet miniature-something dog, in front of the ATO’s senior house. I went inside the house to find the owner to ask some questions about her, but the place was empty except for the previous night’s party supplies. Alpha and I and were formally introduced by a neighbor who took the dog into her possession until the owners got home. Contrary to presumption, Glick said that IV’s housing-challenged citizens are not to fault

One Man, Nine Sandwiches, All Barbecue:

Questions with Santa Barbara Foodbank CEO

Kaptain’s Firehouse BBQ Review

Eric Talkin

by ANNALISE DOMENIGHINI Executive Managing Editor

by MARISSA PEREZ Staff Writer

Q: How did you become the CEO of the Santa Barbara Foodbank? A: My background is as a writer and a filmmaker. I was brought up in England and when I came to the States, I got involved with nonprofits. At the time, the nonprofit center wasn’t as developed in England and I was just kind of intrigued by the nonprofit center here so I started working immediately. Before I was involved in the foodbank, I was working at Casa Esperanza, the local homeless center, for several years, I’ve been doing this kind of work for a while.

Q: How can UCSB students get involved with work at the Santa Barbara Foodbank? A: I think the best thing people can do is get engaged on the community level on helping people maintain good health through good nutrition. More than anything, we’re looking for people to get involved in our programs where we’re trying to get people involved to teach people about food nutrition and food security. Getting engaged is the key thing—everyone wants to be healthy, everyone wants to be nutritious, but not everyone knows how. We work with 300 agencies around the county to work on these programs that students can be involved in and also work on challenges facing students through programs like the UCSB foodbank. Q: What’s been the most diﬃcult part of the Food Security Challenge? A: I think the most challenging part is bringing the energy and attention required with what I’m buying, how I’m preparing it, how I’m storing it, that kind of thing. If you’ve got a lot of money, you’re not thinking about it nearly as much. You can let food go bad and throw it out to buy something new, you can go out and grab fast food for dinner, that kind of thing. If you’re on food stamps long term, it just requires a different lifestyle. The real challenge is giving the time and focus to what I’m eating to make sure I’m eating healthy.

for stray dogs. “The homeless typically stay close to their dogs all the time.” BJ, a black mutt with chocolate eyes is one such dog that has watched 16 years go by in IV’s parks. I met BJ in the middle of an acoustic jam session nestled behind St. Brigids Fellowship, a homeless shelter on Embarcadero Del Mar. His owner, homeless IV resident “Survivor,” said that everyone takes cares of BJ and that the cops, “they all know BJ.” “This dog has been here forever,” an intrigued homeless observer chimed in, “he’s older than any dog you see walking the streets.” “No dog left behind” begins with reaching a consensus between housemates or friends as to who can be held responsible for the dog. Whether it is the house commune setup, the single parent approach, or the homeless 24-hour companion method, selecting an approach that fits both the owner and the dog’s personality is key to keeping IV’s growing dog population out of the shelters. For those with a new puppy or grown dog, in a bind with money and scared to ask parents, Animal Services provides referrals for affordable spaying, neutering, and vaccination services.

Photo Courtesy of | Eric Talkin Q: So, you’re living on food stamps for a month as part of what you’re calling the Food Security Challenge. What are you planning to do for your challenge? A: Each week of the month I will be looking at a different aspect of living on food stamps—from getting advice from the Foodbank’s dietician on eating smart, finding out what nonprofit services are available to me as a resident on SB’s Eastside, how I can grow some of my own food. I’ll be traveling to freezing cold Chicago to both see how the situation in SB differs from that in a big city and also meeting with Feeding America to look at the national situation with food stamps. I’ll be finishing off my challenge with a few days of living in my car, without access to a kitchen and depending on local soup kitchens. The Food Security Challenge is not a gimmick; it’s a chance for me to keep in direct touch with how the Foodbank is trying to move people from hunger to health. Q: Are there any of your other eﬀorts that students can check out? A: I really recommend they look at my blog, From Hunger to Health, that explores some of the deeper issues of hunger that are behind the challenge. Talkin’s blog, From Hunger to Health, is located at http://hungerintohealth.com/ and you can keep up with his Food Security Challenge at http://foodsecuritychallenge.wordpress.com/.

Michael Gould admits to barbecuing everything he can. If it’s ever an option, he uses the barbecue. Gould, who has been in the restaurant business all his life, moved to Santa Barbara 32 years ago. After gaining a rapid interest in barbecuing because of the outdoor-oriented lifestyle of the Santa Barbara area, he’s opened up his first restaurant, Kaptain’s Firehouse BBQ in conjunction with Study Hall on Pardall Road. With sauces and rubs that he makes himself, beef from the Santa Ynez valley, and rolls he picks up fresh every day from a local bakery, Gould is doing barbecue his way, not for money or fame, but to bring delicious barbecue to the people. After two bites of The Anacapa sandwich, one of the restaurant’s more popular sandwiches, it’s clear that he has succeeded. Horseradish mayonnaise, pepper jack cheese, and caramelized onions aren’t initially something that attracts me to eating this barbecued bonanza of taste—I usually go for the tri tip or pulled pork sandwiches drenched in spicy and sweet sauce much like the BBQ Kansas City style pulled pork sandwich—but I wasn’t disappointed. The tri tip, grilled to a warm medium-well done perfection on mesquite wood, was juicy and well-seasoned. The horseradish mayo added a sweet tang to each bite and honestly, who doesn’t enjoy the cheesy goodness of pepper jack cheese? Even when the meat ran out and all my sandwich was just bread, mayo, and cheese, it was still the most delicious bread, mayo, and cheese I’ve ever known. There are nine sandwiches to choose from as well as Gould’s famous chili and classic baby back ribs, but don’t think that as a vegetarian you’re never destined to set foot in this establishment—grilled portabella mushroom sandwiches and grilled veggie burgers are also options. I didn’t try either of them but if they’re even half as good as that Anacapa I had, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. The whole delicious experience only cost a total of $8.70, a price that, as a broke college student, I first balked at, but after eating, I was content with. In fact, everything on the menu is under $10, a reasonable price considering that anything Gould can make from scratch, he does, and he strives to buy as many local or organic ingredients for his entreés as he can. My only complaint, besides the décor (which I’ve been told is being remodeled in the coming months), was the low temperature of my fries when I got them. When I brought that up to Gould the next day though, he was apologetic and made a note to figure out how to amend that shortcoming. I really enjoyed this restaurant and I’m excited to see what kind of things Kaptain’s Firehouse and Study Hall can bring to Isla Vista in the future. If anything, though, at least now I have somewhere to get a delicious barbecue sandwich that doesn’t break the bank.

The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 4 | Opinions

A Bunny Situation: ofThe United States

Examining the Morality of Polygamous Relationships by Christina Chilin One man, many women. It’s a concept that fascinates and horrifies us, but it’s one that we all find intriguing as well. Why is it that we praise Hugh Hefner, who has many partners with whom he lives and has sex, while condemning others who do the same thing, most of whom are “married” to and have children with their multiple partners? The controversy, judgment, and disgust that seem to be aimed at certain groups who practice polygamy becomes completely reversed when the man “practicing” polygamy is Hugh Hefner with his many Playboy Bunnies. Since the inception of Playboy in the 1950s, people have either hated or admired Hefner and his enormous Playboy Empire. The Playboy mansion the well-known home of Hefner and his multiple partners, who constantly come and go. In interviews with ex-Playboy Bunnies, it’s been mentioned that Hefner likes to have between 3 and 15 women in the mansion at all times, all of whom are expected to be intimate with Hefner. Doesn’t this define polygamy? Perhaps not. Digging deeper in the world of polygamous relationships it’s clear

that the biggest difference between Hefner and other polygamous men is that his partners aren’t in committed relationships with him, they aren’t legally married to Hefner. So, has Hefner practiced polygamy by having multiple partners at any one time? No, he isn’t legally married to these women and the women can choose to go at anytime without any ties left behind. The stigma on polygamy comes from the negative portrayal of it in the media and the religious foundation is stems from. There’s unfair stigma associated with Mormon polygamy, especially when it’s judged side by side to what is considered the “normal” monogamous marriage. What it should boil down to is whether everybody in these plural marriages are there because they want to be and are genuinely happy with the lifestyle or whether they are forced to accept it. Should we all be free to choose how to live our lives? Hefner’s lifestyle and the founding “gentlemen’s clubs” gained public attention after an article published in TIME Magazine in the 1960s examined the scandalous trend.

What truly seems to be the issue is that polygamy has become synonymous with religion. The institution of marriage between one man and one woman is, at least, in the general public’s mind, one that is sacred and shouldn’t or can’t be altered. The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, whose branch of Fundamentalist Mormonism is the most well known institution to practice and teach polygamy, has in recent times begun to change its doctrine. The church now claims that their standard doctrine is monogamy (according to their website), and that individuals found practicing polygamy will be excommunicated. So why do we praise a man with multiple lovers, while condemning other men with multiple wives? The two can’t be equated. What seems to keep Hefner in good standing and tends to evoke a grin from most, is that he does not marry every one of his partners and does not have families with them. He’s simply an old man trying to (and succeeding) live out his fantasy life with many young and beautiful women. Instead of creating a home and children with them (as in most marriages), he catapults them into fame, which—let’s be real—is what the many young women who go into the Playboy mansion want. Hefner is currently in his third marriage—he tied the knot to Playboy Bunny Crystal Harris on Dec. 31, 2012. She is the same bunny that dumped him five days before their original wedding date in June 2011. One of the rumored reasons for her cold feet? His poly-sexual lifestyle.

Why We All Deserve One Last Drink by Cheyenne Johnson Staff Writer Alcohol is a part of the college experience, and it doesn’t matter if you’re 21 or not. If you walk down Del Playa on a Saturday night, some place with a loud stereo and open doors will welcome you inside to free, un-ID checked alcohol. The Social Host Ordinance, for all of the anger it initially drew, has been largely forgotten, and Isla Vista renters continue to furnish those under 21 with rum and cokes and Jell-o shots. The legal drinking age in this country is nothing more than a slap in the face, and one that’s poorly applied, considering how the last few tequila-blurred weekends went. Eighteen-year-olds are considered mature enough to drive a vehicle that kills over 40,000 people a year, shoot and own a gun, serve in the army, and vote in elections which decide who runs the country. But with this sudden maturity gained between 17 years and 364 days and the magical 18, we, supposedly, learned nothing about self control and where our limits lie. That apparently doesn’t happen until we’re 21. The United States is one of only a few countries to decide real maturity kicks in at this age. Fiji, Indonesia, Micronesia, Palau, the Solomon Islands, and Sri Lanka are the only other countries to hold this idea. Six out of 196 countries believe you magically hit maturity at 21.

Italy, France, Germany, and all of Europe disagree. You can legally drink in Italy and Germany at 16. France, Greece, U.K., and Spain give you that right at 18 and for parts of U.S. history, we agreed with them. Time for an alcohol history lesson. During World War II, Franklin Roosevelt lowered the minimum age for the military draft from 21 to 18. Then during the Vietnam War, men began to wonder why they were old enough to be drafted but not old enough to vote. Thus, the voting age dropped to 18. The same logic was then applied to drinking, and legal drinking ages began to drop across the country. Then President Reagan and organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving decided to cause problems. To appease concerned mothers, Reagan held each state hostage to the tune of $8-99 million. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 stated that if states didn’t raise the drinking age to 21, they’d lose up to 10 percent of their federal highway funding. With a potential $99 million on the line, it’s no wonder they all agreed. Proponents of the current drinking age usually tout drunk driving statistics. However, let’s not forget that a key reason Reagan enacted the NMDAA was due to “blood borders” where 18 year olds would drive to neighboring states with lower drinking ages to get their alcohol; an action that then required them to drive home. If the age had been 18

in their own state, they never would have had to leave in the first place. So if alcohol’s available at home, you don’t have to go to that party in the neighboring town to get some. The National Highway Administration does offer some good counterarguments. Traffic reports show a 62 percent decrease in alcohol fatalities among teen drivers since 1982. 1982 is also a mere two years before New York became the first state to require seat belt use and in 1988, Chrysler became the first company to offer air bag restraint systems as standard equipment. These might have something to do with decreased alcohol fatalities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the percentage of teens who drink and drive has decreased by more than half since 1991. That’s seven years after the legal age was set. Apparently, if you leave the legal age alone, teens will drink and drive less if you educate them about its dangers. Who knew. At the end of the day, people will always make dumb decisions. However, for something as social and commonplace as drinking, it seems ridiculous that when we’re at an age where mistakes can be rectified and dealt with rather than ruin our lives, we’re denied the chance to make them. If 18-year-olds are mature enough to kill someone in defense of this country, they’re mature enough to ask for one last drink when that someone shoots back.

Beyoncé & Co.

Photo Courtesy of | skw234567 by Anjali Shastry Staff Writer Let’s talk about the women of Hollywood. We’ve got some femme fatales, girls-next-door, America’s sweethearts, and the occasional train wreck. I’m sure there are more categories, but all these different women live in a removed world quite unlike the one that we live in, where life probably consists of making a lot of Starbucks runs and going to the gym (ah, the dream…minus the gym). However, I didn’t come to realize the power these women actually wield in the real world until I saw Beyoncé being chummy with Barack Obama at his inauguration on Jan. 21, 2013. The chanteuse responsible for hits like “Irreplaceable” and “Halo” is friends with the President of the United States. Not only is she friends with the president, but she also sparked a debate on what patriotism is by allegedly lip-synching the national anthem. After the inauguration ceremony, the Internet exploded with “President Beyoncé” memes about how there were more pictures of Beyoncé and Jay-Z than the actual First Couple, and that maybe it was Beyoncé who had been sworn into office, not Obama. Hollywood is in politics, in medicine, in the media, and basically everywhere. There is no escaping it. What does it mean to have power, especially as a woman? Should we learn from women in Hollywood? These are big questions, so let’s start at the beginning. Women in Hollywood are becoming increasingly influential in all spheres of society, including politics and media. While it is true that being a woman in Hollywood is difficult—because women directors and female protagonists in films are an underwhelming minority—the women who are larger than life in Hollywood carry an impressive amount of power. Nowadays, our singers and filmmakers do not stick to just what they’re good at, but branch out to everything. Gwyneth Paltrow has a lifestyle website called Goop. com where she gives life advice and recipes, and Heidi Klum has made a living out of giving fashion advice to aspiring designers. Beyoncé is friends with Obama and campaigned on his behalf, and Oprah tackles psychological problems and also recommends culturally significant books to her viewers. Angelina Jolie saves the world by founding every charity known to man and is even a UN Ambassador. Nobody just acts or sings or models anymore. For example, Jenny McCarthy, semifamous for posing naked for Playboy and dating Jim Carrey that one time, wrote books talking about the link between autism and vaccines (there is no link, according to the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention). McCarthy’s opinion about vaccines launched a national debate about the impact of vaccines on children and their growth. Whether or not this is all a positive, I can’t really decide. I don’t care much for Paltrow’s recipes (they are way too intensive, just give me some microwavable mac and cheese) or Klum’s fashion advice (she’d look good in a garbage bag so let’s just all go home). However, their lifestyles set a standard for people everywhere as the ones that we need to emulate. This is probably why their advice is so influential; if we do what they do, then we too can be as fabulous as they are. If tomorrow Jennifer Lawrence said that she eats a diet of only kelp to maintain her great skin, how many women do you think would drop their burgers and eat a diet of only kelp? You’d be surprised. Women in Hollywood are glamorous, and this contributes to their influence. They are the epitome of our standards of beauty and success. They can tell us that Obama is the right candidate to vote for, that purple is the color that’s in, that vaccines are bad, and we will listen. There are women who use this for positive things, such as Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Lawrence, who encourage people everywhere to love themselves the way they are and to not take things too seriously. There are also well-educated actresses as well, such as Emma Watson (Brown and Oxford Universities), Natalie Portman (Harvard University), and Olivia Munn (University of Oklahoma). These women have made intelligence a desirable trait in women, and have made education something to value. It also has enhanced their credibility on multiple levels as women who don’t rely only on their looks, but also on their brains. And then there are women who are famous because, well, we don’t really know (I’m talking to you, Kim Kardashian). So, we conclude with what we started with: women in Hollywood are influential. Power in Hollywood is about how many spheres of influence a person has, and with the media coverage these women get, they have their foot in every door. What we can take away from women in Hollywood is that they are far from one-dimensional, and an argument can be made for the social responsibility women in front of the camera have. They unconsciously represent women everywhere, and there is pressure to live up to it. So maybe, in 2016, we can have a new platform: Hollywood. Beyoncé for President, Natalie Portman for VP, maybe Angelina Jolie for Secretary of State, and so on. It’s really just a matter of time.

San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With New Direction by Matt Mersel Staff Writer I’ve never been a man who cries much. Not that I find anything wrong with doing so; I simply don’t usually get emotional enough. However, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears two Sundays ago when my beloved New England Patriots fell to the Baltimore Ravens. Another year, another Super Bowl dream crushed. Is that eight seasons in a row now? But enough of my pity party, because the general mood toward football at University of California, Santa Barbara over these past few days has been electric. That’s because the San Francisco 49ers have finally reached the Super Bowl, ending a drought that dates back to 1994. Even more exciting is the fact that head coach Jim Harbaugh will be taking on his brother, John Harbaugh, who is the Ravens’ head coach. Call it the Bro Bowl, the SuperBaugh or whatever you wish. It’s going to be one brutal game. Besides long-time fandom, there are more reasons to be excited about the Niners’ playoff appearance. The 49ers are a storied franchise, one of the pillars of the NFL, with five Super Bowl wins (tied for second all-time) and some

of the greatest players of all time: Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and so on. To see them back on top of the league is a welcoming sight. However, the most exciting part of the team’s recent success isn’t just their reclamation of the football throne; it is the way in which they are changing how football is played. The NFL of the present is a high-flying, high-powered offensive league. Quarterbacks and receivers are the main playmakers, with explosive downfield throws and gravity defying catches being the order of the day. Defenses aren’t the prime concern; if the offense were good enough, all of the points in the world scored against the team wouldn’t matter. Think the Saints, Lions, and Packers. This, however, is anything but characteristic of 49ers football. Head coach Jim Harbaugh entered the league two years ago, leaving his job as the head coach at Stanford (where he coached none other than the number one draft pick of last year and possible Offensive Rookie of the Year, Andrew Luck). He brought to the Niners exactly what the organization used to thrive on: discipline, and some good old-fashioned football. Professional football several decades

ago didn’t look anything like it does today. In the past, the game was all about running the football and putting up a strong defensive showing. While my Patriots are all about Tom Brady slinging the ball to a cadre of receivers, Jim Harbaugh assembled one of the strongest defenses in the league. In 2011, they did not allow a rushing touchdown until the penultimate week of the regular season, and created a hard-hitting, powerful offense that focused on a tough ground attack by running back Frank Gore and the elevated play of the previously mediocre quarterback Alex Smith. This season, when Smith was lost mid-game to a concussion, backup Colin Kaepernick took the stage and has yet to relinquish the position. A debatably more dynamic and athletic player overall, he now leads the team with a similar offense, and his running ability is now another weapon. Other teams are taking notice, too, with the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers all employing similar tactics. After no playoff appearances from 2002-2010, the 49ers are the team to beat in the NFL. The discipline and talent that have evolved under Jim Harbaugh are almost un-

believable. The Niners don’t beat teams by relying on their offense to score phenomenal amounts of points before their opponents can react. They physically outmatch the other team on both sides of the ball, and the points come naturally. When you combine the league’s third-ranked overall defense, fourth-ranked rushing attack, and eleventh-ranked overall offense, you don’t just get a dangerous team. You get a Super Bowl winner. The Ravens are an excellent team, as terrible as those words taste. They have the skills to go toe-to-toe with the 49ers, and nothing is a given at this point. Both teams know they can be champions, but someone has to win this game. Before last year, I had always liked the 49ers. I was never an ardent supporter, but I rooted for them when appropriate and liked to see them win. However, after seeing the way in which they have reinvented themselves and made their decade-long slump just a memory, I am completely sold on them, and can see myself as a lifelong fan. With the Patriots out, there is no other team I would rather see take out the Ravens and hold up the Lombardi Trophy this Sunday. Now go ruffle some feathers, 49ers.

The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 5 | Arts & Entertainment

Ben Affleck Deemed a ‘Modern Master’ at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

by CAMILA MARTINEZ-GRANATA Opinions Editor In stark contrast to its usual peaceful presence on State Street, the Arlington Theater was filled to capacity on Jan. 25, 2013, the second night of the 28th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The night was highlighted by the Modern Master’s Award ceremony, which commemorated the cinematic achievements of Ben Affleck. The Modern Master Award is a prestigious accolade at the SBIFF for individuals who are considered to have contributed to the filmmaking industry by enriching it with their acting, directing, and writing. Despite the blinding lights Affleck endured on the red carpet prior to the ceremony, he was warm and welcoming to fans posted outside the theater. Unlike the Oscars, where stars sit next to fellow stars, Affleck sat in the theater next to other guests, surrounded by ogling eyes and giddy middle-aged women. As if his presence in the audience wasn’t enough, another pleasant surprise was an appearance by Affleck’s longtime friend and fellow cinematic jack-of-all-trades Matt Damon, who sat behind Affleck during the ceremony. After a short introduction by festival di-

Restored Film ‘The Hoodlum’ Delves Into the Minds of Misfits

rector Roger Durling and sponsors, film critic Leonard Maltin hosted and welcomed Affleck to the stage for what was more like a casual chat than a televised interview. In between Affleck’s and Durling’s conversation, several paired scenes of movies Affleck acted, filmed, and directed in from oldest to most recent were screened, ending with his critically acclaimed film “Argo.” When asked about how it felt to watch clips from movies starred in, Affleck said, “It was fun to see my life flash before my eyes.” Affleck appeared to be very relaxed, humbled, and quite at home when speaking with Durling. He wasn’t afraid to make fun of himself and expressed honesty regarding his opinions toward his acting, directing, and the film industry in general. The first pair of scenes screened was from 1993’s “Dazed and Confused” and 1997’s “Chasing Amy.” Affleck said that “Chasing Amy” was “a pivotal turning point for me.” Affleck began acting at a young age, and pursued his budding career with long-time friend Matt Damon, who also attended the ceremony. A vibrant subject for conversation and fond memories was 1997’s “Good Will Hunting,” which starred Affleck as well as Damon. Affleck recalled the film with a nostalgic grin, which was not surprising given that the movie -

which won Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor - was written by Affleck and Damon during their young adult years in Boston. “At its essence, we always wanted to have a movie on our shelf. It was a do-it-yourself era,” said Affleck, while making nods to other DIY films like “Reservoir Dogs.” Also screened were clips from 2001’s “Pearl Harbor” and 2007’s “Gone Baby Gone,” which was Affleck’s debut as a director. At that point, Affleck expressed his various experiences as a director: the good, the bad, and the slightly awkward. Affleck said, “I learned a huge number of lessons. It’s constantly an uphill battle for me. I gotta work really hard. I know exactly what I’ve achieved because I know how hard I’ve worked.” Affleck’s exposure to both sides of the camera has provided him with his own style, methods, and consideration for actors when filming. “I like to do a lot of takes. I like to create a sense of relaxation for the actors,” he said. “I like to give actors a chance to do whatever they want.” The cinematic triple threat’s involvement in the film industry has also matured in a different way due to his life as a father of three. “Anything I do as an artist doing this work

‘Cirque Ziva’ Takes Audience on Fantastical Acrobatic Adventure

by DEANNA KIM Staff Writer Film-noir “The Hoodlum,” directed by Max Nosseck in 1950, tells the story of a sociopath and anti-hero, Vincent Lubeck, after his release from prison. The second of five films in the Carsey-Wolf Center’s film series “The Future of the Past: The Art and Philosophy of Film Preservation Series” was shown at the Pollock Theater on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Shortly after his release from prison, Lubeck continues his menacing, selfish ways, letting nothing get in the way of his goals, desires, or criminal activity. He lacks moral responsibility and remorse throughout the whole film, only showing that he is capable of producing tears at his mother’s death bed. “No redeeming social qualities whatsoever,” said guest speaker Jan-Christopher Horak at the screening, in reference to Lubeck. Horak is the director of the University of California, Los Angeles Film and TV Archive, which is the second largest film and television archive in the United States and one of the ten largest in the world. Most of the acting in the film is overly theatrical, but because the whole movie is exaggerated, from the music to the script, it remains entertaining and convincing. The characters are not multidimensional, so the movie was predictable—yet simultaneously very unpredictable because of its simplicity. I kept expecting an unconventional twist, but Lubeck’s psychopathic personality and extreme antisocial attitude was so blatant that it became humorous. “He’s an a**hole,” said Yibing Guo, a second-year film and media studies major. “At some point you want him to win. There is no way he’s going to redeem himself. You don’t want him to change. You want him to stay this a**hole and at least get something out of that.” This film was restored at UCLA Film and TV archive in 2008 from original camera negatives found in Argentina. The process of restoring and preserving films is becoming critical to help older films to continue to exist. Digital restoration and preservation is also on the rise, but with serious challenges as digital preservation entails reformatting the film every two or so years, it is a very expensive and laborious act. “The importance of film archives and film preservations is that for much of the history of cinema, probably until the 1960s, there was no such thing [as a film archive or preservation] in any systematic way,” said Horak. “As a result, about 90% of all silent films were lost and 50% of all sound film, up until 1950, were lost . . . so what remains is important and really needs to be preserved. . .they’re important cultural artifacts of our culture and foreign cultures.” As technology continues to advance, it parallels the transformation of art and techniques of film and media. The use of film for cinematography is slowly shifting to digital in some aspects, but primarily using film for cinematography has not seceded yet. Luckily, because of film and television archives, the current generation and generations to come can continue to enjoy films from around the world and of various eras such as “The Hoodlum.”

does get influenced by those kids. You see your reflection of yourself in them. It makes it profoundly important to me to do work with integrity,” said Affleck. Compared to his life before kids, Affleck said that “this era is something new and incredibly rewarding. I think the challenge of one’s lifetime is to make good people.” The conversation ended with a discussion of Affleck’s new film “Argo,” which was nominated for seven Oscars this year. “Argo” also received the Golden Tomato award from the film critic website rottentomatoes.com. “I’d like to get that trophy,” said Affleck. Aside from the many nominations and praise from critics, Affleck said that “this is one of the films where I can keep talking about it. It is eerily current and examines issues of foreign policy today.” The climactic presentation of the Modern Master award was held off until the very end of the three-hour event, but the wait was worth it. After sneaking away at one point, Damon finally appeared onstage and presented Affleck with the trophy and his congratulations, while expressing his belief in Affleck’s ability since childhood. “My buddy is a great director. All I can think of to say is congratulations,” Damon said. “To my very old friend, and a very young master.”

Photo Courtesy of | UCSB Arts and Lectures

by CHEYENNE JOHNSON Staff Writer A multitude of orange balls, unicycles missing their seats, and chandelier-like objects made of water-filled shot glasses balanced on glass plates were only a few of the eclectic items used at The Golden Dragon Acrobats’ performance titled “Cirque Ziva,” which took place on Jan. 26 at University of California, Santa Barbara’s Campbell Hall. The group of athletes, actors, and artists average 200 performances a year, and have presented in all 50 states and over 65 countries. The collective performance and each individual act combined acrobatic feats with props and a spectacular wardrobe inspired by the group’s home country of China. The various elements were incorporated in innovative and breath-taking ways that clearly demonstrated the passion and dedication the performers have for their craft. Each performance was a challenge to the human body’s ability to bend and a question of its strength. One performer contorted her body as she balanced a shot-glass chandelier upon her feet, hands, and face while rolling, rising, and spinning without spilling a drop. Another dribbled orange balls between her hands and feet while lying on her back, and bounced

it up a pole to drop it into a basket. A few acts later, an acrobat climbed on top of four chairs precariously stacked 30 feet high, only to hold himself in place with a single hand. Pure acrobatic talent and gymnastic finesse was the backbone for “Cirque Ziva,” proving that the members were not only grand actors and performers, but also talented athletes and contortionists. A group of ten or so men jumped, twisted, and leaped through a large ring raised higher and higher from the floor, all the while doing cartwheel, handsprings, and flips. Acrobats jumped from one spinning unicycle to another with ease and grace, and nine people nimbly jumped aboard a moving bicycle. They juggled hats and balls, made intricate towers with each other’s bodies, and tossed diabolos, which are juggling props composed of a hourglass-shaped spool wirled on a string. While the performance itself was astounding, students from UCSB may have been confused by the face painting, balloon animals, and dozens of children running around outside of the Hall. “Cirque Ziva” was put on in accordance with the Arts and Lectures’ Family Fun Series, which holds children-friendly entertainment to appeal to families around the Santa Barbara area. Noel Henry, the Events Manager for the Arts and Lectures series, said that the children shows are some of their most popular

events. “We have quite a few shows left this year for children,” said Henry. “They’re always on Saturdays around 3 p.m. We always have a social before all the children’s shows just for all the kids to be able to have fun. All the kids shows always sell out. We never have tickets the day of.” The events are usually sponsored by members of the community who aim to make the series more accessible and feasible. Tom Kenny, a UCSB graduate and sponsor of the event, said he’s attended many of the Family Fun Series shows and was happy to help sponsor “Cirque Ziva.” “We’ve really gotten behind the children’s program,” said Kenny, “so each year now we choose a venue we connect with and then we contribute to help make it work.” Kenny said “Cirque Ziva” offered an opportunity for the children of Santa Barbara to see something to unique and rare in the area. “It’s something different,” said Kenny, “that you don’t see come through Santa Barbara very often, and our daughter loves stuff like this.” The Arts and Lectures Family Fun Series continues in February with a “Brown Bear, A Moon, and A Caterpillar: Treasured Stories by Eric Carle” and will run until April.

A Glimpse of the Windy City Through a Whirlwind Performance:

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Takes the Stage by OXANA ERMOLOVA Staff Writer Lighting may not strike twice in the same spot, but thankfully, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago does. The renowned dance company returned to grace the Granada Theatre stage on Jan. 23, with a strong program of choreography that solidified the company’s place at the forefront of innovation in contemporary dance. University of California, Santa Barbara’s Arts & Lectures’ unusual scheduling decision to invite the company for a second consecutive season is a testament to the tremendous acclaim Hubbard Street received from its Santa Barbara audience last year. Hubbard Street presented pieces by three choreographers that highlighted different choreographic approaches to modern dance. Of particular note was “Untouched” by Aszure Barton. Barton worked individually with the dancers to create a dance where performers populate a surreal world of movement. The work brilliantly combined strong lighting choices, evocative stage design, and elegant costumes with powerful choreography. Unified by a coherent artistic vision, the piece was satisfy-

ing both aesthetically and intellectually. Company dancer Kellie Epperheimer, who taught a master class at the UCSB Dance Department, noted that a dancer “is the paint but also the painter.” This ethos was evident in the performance, where the strength of the choreography was amplified by the intelligently visceral quality with which the dancers imbued their movement. The dancers’ secret to executing the choreography’s devilishly tricky steps with deceptive ease and aching beauty lies in the extensive hours of rehearsal the dancers put into preparing the work. “It takes sweat,” rehearsal director Terence Marling candidly acknowledged. “That’s the secret ingredient.” Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton noted in a post-performance discussion with the audience that while there may not be a clear narrative or easily discernible “meaning” in the dances, there is certainly clear vision involved. He shared that the choreographers often rely on imagery to evoke a certain feel to the movement, rather than directly telling the dancers what they should represent. The dancers then embody this imagery in their execution of the

steps. “Dance can get bland without that input,” Edgerton said, adding that “hopefully it involves your imagination as well.” The closing work, “Casi Casa,” certainly ignited the audience’s imagination. Choreographed by Mats Ek, a leading Swedish choreographer, the piece explored life within the home and rifts that can develop in domestic relationships. Staged with smart humor and inventiveness, the dance invited viewers to reflect upon ways in which individuals living under the same roof can connect or alienate themselves. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and the company has grown to include a wide range of repertory. In addition to staging works by established choreographers, Edgerton is putting the spotlight on the next generation of dance makers. He provides his dancers with opportunities to choreograph for the company, noting that his goal is to be “at the next step where dance can be.” That intention was indeed evident in the company’s performance, and it will be thrilling to see what innovation the company will bring when it next visits Santa Barbara.

The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 6 | Health & Lifestyles

Life After War, Thinking the Unthinkable by COURTNEY HAMPTON Staff Writer

The statistics aren’t pretty. According to the Department of Defense taskforce on mental health, 30 percent of members from the Armed Forces returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Another 10 percent have been diagnosed with depression. The most chilling statistic is that in 2012, 152 active-duty servicemen committed suicide—more than the number of servicemen killed in action. In her talk entitled “Knowing Terrible Things: Thinking the Unthinkable in Time of War,” Martha Bragin from the Hunter College School of Social Work in the City University of New York claimed that the healing of veterans is affected by society’s ability to recognize its connections to the soldiers who fight war in its name. The process of post-combat reintegration is impacted by the society’s ability or failure to incorporate the soldier’s experiences as its own. The Interdisciplinary Humanities Center (IHC) sponsored the talk as a part of the series “Fallout: In the Aftermath of War” and took place on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 4 p.m. on the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. “If veterans do not heal, the society cannot grow,” said Bragin during the talk. “The goal would be for the larger society to own the narrative that a combat veteran enacts during wartime. A welcome home should provide reintegration services that enable [the veterans] to use what they have learned to improve their own lives and those of their family and community.” Bragin said that some of the symptoms of PTSD do not surface until long after the combatant has returned from duty, especially if the combatant has not been properly aided by reintegration programs. “Neurobiological research indicates that extremely violent events are processes differently by the brain, causing them to be segregated and fragmented outside the narrative [of war],” said Bragin. She explained that neurologist Sigmund Freud claimed that the sound of shells exploding near the helmets of World War I combatants was not the cause of “shell-shock,” what we now know as PTSD. Instead, shell-shock in veterans was caused by the fear of making meaning of the impulses connected to those sounds. Later psychologists theorized that the problem was that the rest of society repressed and ignored the connections that the veterans had made to the sounds of war. Members of society not in combat construct a collective idea of war that does not match up to the combatants’ idea of war. This false image protects civilians from having to know what may be too terrible to know. “We know that when soldiers return from war they are changed,” said IHC Director Susan Derwin when introducing Bragin. “We also know that when soldiers come home from war, their loved ones are often at a loss to understand what they have gone through. The violence that soldiers have experienced can seem far removed from the everyday lives and ordinary events of the people at home.” According to Bragin, research suggests that since the brain processes violence differently than normal experiences, both the body and the brain are altered. When combatants must repress these memories of violence because they do not feel they can confide in others about their experiences, they recall these memories as vividly as they first experienced them. By taking these memories and narratives out of the shadows, breaking down the boundaries between combatants and civilians, and accepting the horrors of the warriors as the horrors of a society that sponsored war-making, we can help soldiers reintegrate into society. In short, we must think the unthinkable. The next event in the IHC series “Fallout: In the Aftermath of War” will be a performance of actors reading scenes from ancient Greek dramas about soldiers returning from war. After the reading, a panel of veterans and community members will offer their personal responses to the play to inspire an audience discussion about the homecoming of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. “Theater of War” will take place on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. in the Hatlen Theater at UCSB.

Photo by Vivian Escalante | The Bottom Line

UCSB American Red Cross Blood Drives Make Strides to Save Lives by KASSANDRA GUTIERREZ

However, some people have their doubts about donating blood. Clara Perez, a first-year English major, was Ever wanted to be a superhero for just one day? scared to donate blood. “I heard stories about people Your dreams aren’t that far away. Donating just one pint fainting and I do not like blood so the thought of filling of blood can save up to three lives. Each year 4.5 mil- up a bag with my blood was horrifying.” lion Americans are in need of a blood transfusion, and It took some convincing, but finally Perez was up for the only way we can fulfill these needs are by donating the cause. She donated and said it was really uplifting. “I blood. was not getting freaked out because the people were really For us University of California, Santa Barbara stu- nice and reassuring, and I knew I was doing good for the dents, we really don’t have to go very far to donate. You community.” can choose to take a trip to downtown Santa Barbara and “I feel it’s my responsibility to donate since I am the donate at a local medical center or you universal donor and so I can help a lot of can donate people with a little through our amount of blood,” “I feel it’s my responsibility to doon-campus said first-year binate since I am the universal donor group, UCSB opsychology major American Nadia Ratkowski, and so I can help a lot of people Red Cross. one of very few uniwith a little amount of blood.” This year the versal donors. UCSB AmeriThere are limita- Nadia Ratowski, can Red Cross tions to donating first-year biopsychology major is hoping to blood. One has to hold a blood drive be in a healthy condion May 7 in the tion, at least 17 years Student Resource Building (SRB). old, and weigh at least 110 pounds. In addition, one can Fourth-year communication and economics double donate blood only every 56 days. However, if you do not major and president of the UCSB American Red Cross, meet these requirements there are still an infinite number Connor Kampff, says, “We want more people donating. of other ways to give back to the community. There are usually only 5 seats available, and donating Donating blood is said to be fun, exciting, and respots fill up pretty quick. We hope to get a bigger place warding, and only takes about a half an hour to an hour. to hold these blood drives, so we can have more people “We want to be more efficient,” states Kampff in redonating.” gard to the goals of the organization. “Also to bring more “One of my best friends was diagnosed with cancer awareness and have people really understand the differsophomore year of college,” said Kampff when asked why ence they are making.” donating blood was important to him. “Five of my best If you do choose to donate, be prepared on the day friends and I headed to the University of California, Los you do it. Eat a hearty breakfast and have plenty to drink. Angeles medical center and donated to her account.” Bring a form of identification and have a list of any mediNot knowing if their blood would be transferable to cation that you are currently taking. Finally, bring a smile their best friend, they still donated in hope of saving a and a big heart, because an hour of your time is saving life. lives.

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11 Tips To Keeping Clear of the Common Cold Winter quarter has arrived, which means that the cold and flu have come once again to spread their special brand of cheer. However, if you are not interested in celebrating the change in season with a week in bed, here are some tips courtesy of Student Health and fellow students on how to stay well this quarter.

Get a Flu Shot

Your mental health is directly tied to your physical health, so it is in your best interest not to stress yourself out too much. Make sure you don’t bury yourself in your work so completely that you forget to leave room for your brain to unwind and for you to do something you enjoy.

The single best way to prevent yourself from coming down with the flu is getting a flu shot. Student Health is offering them on a walk in, no appointment needed basis. They are free if you are signed up for UC SHIP, or you can pay $20 if you waived SHIP.

Exercise

Handwashing “The most important step to staying free of disease is by keeping your hands clean,” said Director of Student Health, Dr. Mary Ferris. If you shake hands with someone who has coughed on his or her hand and then you touch your face, you can easily get sick.

Take some Airborne Airborne is the method of choice for preventing illness for students such as fourth-year statistics and mathematics double major, Diana Urias. Airborne is a drug people usually take for crowded, germridden areas such as airplanes, and a college campus fits that description perfectly.

Relax

by MICHAEL QUINTANILLA

Eat a Healthy Diet Your body is a temple and like any temple, it needs to be built on a good foundation. A rock solid balance of fruit, vegetables, meats, and grains is the key to keeping your body in a healthy state.

Regular exercise increases immune system cell production, so it should be a part of your routine if you want to avoid getting sick.

Sleep

Keeping your body in a good Circadian rhythm is vital if you want to stay healthy. Getting enough sleep gives your body the chance to repair itself if any threats enter uninvited and gives you the energy to make it through the day.

Have a drink

One student who chooses to remain anonymous swears that any ailment he is afflicted by can be remedied with a beer or two. I did some fact-checking with Dr. Ferris on this one; she said while the beer itself probably is not the remedy, the placebo effect it creates if you think it works could be a powerful healing factor.

Cough Into Your Sleeve On a related note, it is also important to cough into your sleeve in order to avoid spreading germs around. People are going to be touching the inside of your elbow a lot less often than your hands.

Don’t Share Your Stuff Also in this line of thinking, make sure you avoid sharing drinks or anything else with other people. You don’t know where their mouths have been (and they might not either). Better to be safe than sorry.

Drink Lots of Fluids Drinking fluids helps your body flush toxins out of its system and replace any fluids you might have lost through sweating, fever, or for any other reason. Staying hydrated even when you are not sick is important to keeping your body running smoothly.

Hopefully these tips are enough to keep you on your feet this quarter and staying well through the long winter.

The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 7 | Technology

Migrating to Microsoft: U-Mail’s Not-So-Micro Move to Microsoft Oﬃce by KYLE SKINNER U-Mail has recently changed its interface completely, teaming up with Microsoft Office to provide a nicer looking interface for University of California, Santa Barbara students. The new platform looks more like a professional email interface than the past one, but there is more than meets the eye to the new set up. The U-Mail migration took place without losing students’ emails. All folders and emails were synchronized with the new interface. All Students and faculty were able to keep their email addresses and could log into Microsoft Office 365 using the same login password that they used for the old interface. Mathew Dunham, a manager of the U-Mail services, said that although U-Mail has changed its interface to Microsoft, “UMail is still U-Mail, and it will continue to be U-Mail. This is a change that a lot of

higher education institutions have been making over the years.” A committee named the Student E-Mail Governance Group, consisting of 120 University technical and business staff, graduate students and undergraduate students, was formed to test out different email platforms, one of which was Microsoft Office 365. Google was also in the running but wasn’t chosen by the group because of the large number of students already on Google’s Gmail. “About one third of U-Mail users already forward their U-Mail messages to their Gmail accounts,” Dunham said. The move to Google would cause confusion among people that already had Gmail addresses because they would have to keep up with their already existing account as well as their new “edu” Gmail account. Not only would the move to Google have been a little confusing for Gmail users, but by having Microsoft partner up with the university, students will soon have access to

New Batch of Smartphones:

Is Mozilla’s Firefox OS Really the Best New Tech Gadget? by NURA GABBARA Can you feel that? Your smartphone senses are tingling. This is because Mozilla is launching the next generation of smartphones using advanced technology HTML5 apps and APIs (application programming interface) accessible through JavaScript, known to the average consumer as the Firefox OS. The code name for these suave devices is the “Boot to Gecko,” otherwise known at the “B2G.” Can the Mozilla Firefox OS really be the next best gadget on the market? Mozilla announced earlier this week that their two new smartphones, the Keon model and the Peak model, will be shipping to developers shortly who plan on making apps for its open-source platform. These developers plan on creating a new spin on apps that will be available through an open-web standard. This new wave of smartphones will be open to the public for purchase in early February. As mentioned earlier, there are two developing types of smartphone within the name of Mozilla’s Firefox OS: the Keon and the Peak model. The Keon model is less advanced than the Peak model that has faster CPU (central processing unit) and an eight megapixel camera. With HTML5 apps, these smartphones will be able to do what a normal phone can do: vibrate, send text messages, and make phone calls. But lo and behold, Mozilla’s specialized apps will not be limited to just the smartphone. These HTML5 apps can be accessed through multiple devices via its open-web platform. Mozilla will be competing against three other mobile carrier devices that will be launched later on in the year and in early 2014: Samsung’s Tizen, Jolla’s Sailfish, and Canonical’s Ubuntu. As stated

by Forbes Magazine, Mozilla’s Firefox OS will primarily become available to Brazil through “a partnership with Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica,” before making its way over to the United States and Europe. Having a partner to backup their endeavors demonstrates Mozilla’s stab-le plan to branch out across the market to success. And, seeing as the Firefox OS is just a platform for future success, not very many phones are needed to be sold in order for Mozilla’s progression up the ladder to continue. The Firefox OS is much cheaper than other smartphones already on the market. There is no set price on these new devices, but you are paying for what you get. While these phones may be cheaper in the long run, the technology of the phone is lacking compared to other renovated devices made by Apple and Google. For example, Mozilla created, and is still creating, their own HTML5 apps that are not as advanced as their superiors’ fast and freshly enhanced apps. But, to those who plan on abandoning their old brick phones to something lighter and much more smooth-running, the Firefox OS proves as a great introduction to touch screen and apps technology. At this point, you are probably wondering what exactly an HTML5 app is. It is basically a compilation of websites that are accessed on the phone’s browser. The idea is that the phone’s user interface will be a Web app that has the ability to display other Web apps on a nifty sized screen. Using HTML5 apps lowers the price of the smartphone, which is exactly what Mozilla needs to do in this rapidly growing economy. Afterall, it is their first attempt at making such useful devices. And through trial and error and years to come, the Firefox OS may just be the next best thing to take down Apple and Google.

the full features of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, and Microsoft Excel for free. “Google has the Google Docs feature and Google Spreadsheet feature that don’t have all of the abilities that the Microsoft Office applications do,” said Dunham. This migration to Microsoft benefits both the university and the students. Dunham stated “UC [Santa Barbara] is an educational institution, not an IP service. Microsoft was able to offer us a much richer service at a lower cost. Better service for students, with a better interface and an increase in storage.” Students now have access to 25 GB of storage, calendar features, and instant messaging. There hasn’t been an official survey out for students to provide Dunham with feedback, but after the Student E-Mail Governance Group piloted the program for a few months, there was an overwhelming support for the move. Students have had mixed reactions about

the move. “I’m not a huge fan of the new layout. The old one was simpler and it wasn’t bad so I don’t know why they changed it,” said Paige Archer, a first-year sociology major. When informed about the access to the Microsoft Office applications, she said, “That’s really cool and actually helpful. I didn’t know that was happening.” Amanda Estep, a second-year biology major had a similar view, but she ended up liking the new interface. “I was kind of shocked, since I was used to the old system,” said Estep. “The accessibility was a bit more difficult on the Microsoft interface at first, but I played around with it and now it makes even more sense than the last system did!” Although this new interface may look different, U-Mail is the same system as before. As first-year anthropology major Eric Johnson put it, “It’s still U-Mail, easy to adapt to, just with a new look.”

Popular Online Dating Sites for College Students by CLARA PEREZ Are you looking for love? Having trouble finding that special someone? Online dating websites have become increasingly popular over the last few years as technology and social networking have become a more important aspect in our daily lives. Advertisements on the Internet and television target many people, and now they are stating that more and more people are starting relationships online. Current well-known online dating websites include Match.com, okcupid, and datemyschool. Match.com, known for their advertisement phrase, “1 in every 5 relationships starts on an online dating site,” started in 1995. It now provides services to millions of people in more than 24 countries. Match.com also charges fees for their services. Although there are many people that depend on this website and others to meet someone, there is still skepticism, especially in college students. “College students would not benefit from dating websites because we are here in a place where we can meet people,” says Olivia Luyckx, a first-year student at University of California, Santa Barbara. Okcupid is another dating website that is growing in numbers. It is free to use and gives the user detailed explanations of how they match people with each other. However, according to the University of Arkansas, some websites use false advertisements. The average eHarmony marriage only lasts about six months, but since eHarmony has patents on the questionnaires that determine who is matched with whom, the information about how they match people is not made available. This is only one example, but it suggests that online dating could be questionable and possibly untrustworthy. “It seems like the person is not really there,” said Maurina, a first-year at UCSB, commenting on the idea of meeting and dating someone online. Recently, online dating has gotten major attention because of a new show on MTV called “Catfish.” The host found a person online who he really liked, but it turned out to be a lie when he actually went to go meet the woman. Although he was heartbroken they soon became friends, and the host then starting

helping other people find their online lovers. Sometimes the situations have a happy ending, but there can be situations in which people lie about who they really are. Many people have become too trustworthy of the Internet and forget that you could become anyone online. A fairly new dating website, Datemyschool, was created exclusively for college students. Its structure is very similar to that of Facebook in that one can post something for everyone to read. People can also comment on one’s posts or they could press the star, which is something akin to the “like” button on Facebook. “I think it’s weird. I have two older sisters; one met her husband online, through Facebook,” said Andrea Valenzuela, a fourthyear student. “My other sister met her current boyfriend, who she has been dating for a year, through Facebook as well.” Even though Facebook is not a dating site, it is a social network that allows people connect with others. One also has to think about our society and how we are becoming a population that is more Internet-dependent and less focused on physical contact. There is no need for someone to come into physical contact with another human being when everything is just a click away. Online dating sites are a way for people to connect with each other without going through the trouble of getting ready and looking presentable for someone else. The person can get to know someone else in the comfort and privacy of their own home. The convenience of dating sites is certainly appealing, but are we really finding our true soul mates? Mitch, a first-year at UCSB, is not entirely against dating sites but does not find them personal or real. “I think that for some people it is a good thing but for others, it is bad because one could be taken advantage of,” Mitch said. “You don’t find love by reading the details of someone’s life on a profile page.” Since online dating is fairly new, we don’t see the long term effects of being in a relationship that started on the Internet. But with our ever-growing technology and our society’s obsession with social networking, it is possible that online dating just may become the new way to date.

The Bottom Line | Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

page 8 | Continuations

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the SB urban forest. Sheila Lodge, a previous mayor of SB and currently the Planning Commissioner for the city, said she’s concerned the public doesn’t understand the value of the urban forest. “[We need] to somehow get the public a little more aware of the importance of the urban forest,” said Lodge. “I think we tend to take it for granted...They’re just of vital importance to the community. I’d like to see the community more aware of them.” One concern raised was the issue of non-native trees overtaking those native to California. Native plants on average use less water, require less maintenance, are naturally defensive against local pests and diseases, encourage local wildlife to live there, and help support the local ecology, prompting the SB Parks and Recreation to promote their increased prevalence amongst local gardeners and homeowners. The Parks and Recreation committee asked those present to offer visions on what they hope the urban forest will look like in the next several decades. Sweeney said the balance of local and non-native trees is of great importance. “We have an historic pepper tree,” said Sweeney, “which is not native to California, in front of our city hall. We have palm trees of a whole variety of descriptions that define our waterfront. I think as you lay out this vision, one probably needs to think about the types of tree, the types of tree canopy, that enhances our architecture, because for me, landscaping and architecture rolls into one.” Other community members suggested doing their own part to ensure the future. Alice San Andres Callejo, community organizer for the Mesa, said she’s trying to coordinate street teams throughout the Mesa that would have some form of fruit tree in their front yard, simultaneously improving the environment and the view as well as reducing how much the families spend on produce. San Andres Callejo stressed the importance of community involvement. “I think it really has to do with how much residents also understand,” said San Andres Callejo. “It takes a village also...That could be your gift to your neighbor who has nothing in their front yard.”

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