Fall 2019, Issue 5 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

VOLUME XIV, ISSUE X

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

time for

CHANGE Daylight Savings Time signals the approach of shorter, darker days as we approach the winter months. Photo by GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor

ADY BARKAN On Oct. 29 Pollock Theater screened the documentary Uncovered: Health Care Conversations with Ady Barkan, followed by a Q&A session.

TBL sits down with up-andcoming R&B singer Hojean for an intimate look at the artist's life, inspiration, and musical journey. A&E | PAGE 7

FEATURES | PAGE 5

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HER CAMPUS

Instagram Hack leads to

NEWFOUND EMPOWERMENT JADE MARTINEZ-POGUE | National Beat Reporter

er Campus is an online magazine with over 300 chapters in 11 different countries, aimed at empowering college-aged women through articles and content written entirely by college women themselves. On Oct. 26, the UCSB chapter’s Instagram was hacked and all content dating back until last May was erased. “[I] woke up to a bunch of email notifications from our mail account informing us that all our log-in information had been changed,” said Catalina Fernandez, co-editor-in-chief and campus correspondent for the UCSB chapter, in an interview with The Bottom Line. Not only were all the posts up to last May deleted, but the biography, profile picture, and page highlights were also all removed.

2 | NEWS

The most disconcerting part of the hack is what the hacker had changed the username and bio to. The bio of the hacked page read, "Dumb b-----s who don’t have anything better to do and the username stated, 'So f----- dumb like Cardi B,." “My immediate reaction was noticing the irony in the description and the biography. The whole point of our platform is to empower women and create content that is empowering,” Fernandez said. “The fact that this person who hacked our account made it a point to degrade a woman [Cardi B] in the username was completely contradictory to everything we believe.” The hack happened around 2 a.m. on Saturday morning, with continued attempts of other users trying to get into the account until 4 a.m. The Her Campus

editor-in-chiefs did not see the notifications until they woke up around 10 a.m. that morning, leaving the demeaning content up for at least eight hours. “We’re confused about the logistics of it to be honest. But clearly, it was a very deliberate attack,” said Fernandez. The Her Campus team immediately called Instagram and Her Campus Nationals in order to try and get their account back, and was successful after a few hours. Shortly after recovering the account, Fernandez and her CoEditor-in-Chief Shante Boudaghi knew that the next important step was to put out a statement to their followers on Instagram relaying what had happened. “Earlier today we experienced the hacking and erasure of content the strong and intelligent women of our chapter worked hard to create this past year,” the post read. “As women, it’s no secret that our voices are systematically and persistently distorted and policed ... We stand firm in our mission to create content that embodies womanhood itself: powerful, graceful, and strong as hell.” Her Campus was eventually able to find out who the hacker was, but does not want to name them and give them any more attention. “We think the whole point of what they were doing was trying to get some sort of attention and we don’t want to give them that satisfaction,” said Fernandez. The point of the Instagram

post was to rise above the situation and show the hacker that they would persist in their mission to empower women. “We were obviously frustrated and angry with the situation but we were more focused on getting back our site and informing our supporters of what had happened than trying to do a witch-hunt for this person,” Fernandez said. Fernandez held a steady head towards the situation despite having deflated feelings towards it. “It was a combination of frustration and shock, but mostly just sadness. Having someone come in with so much malicious intent to strap away the work of women who created this content so honestly and authentically was just sad,” said Fernandez. During the hack, UCSB Her Campus reached out to the Facebook page of Her Campus national to explain the situation. They were astonished by the amount of support they received from multiple chapters, even some in which they had never been in contact with before. “It was amazing because so many chapters sent their love to Her Campus UCSB. It was a really welcoming feeling of support and solidarity,” she said. The UCSB Her Campus administrative leaders also received an immense amount of support from their new members and interns, motivating them to continue on with their goal. They took the hack as an opportunity to grow and continue putting out content that would empower and

inspire. ”To have someone hack your account is an attempt to silence your voice. Even having that kind of intrusion let us know that the content that we’re making is challenging someone,” Fernandez said. Her Campus did not feel the need to reach out to campus administration about this encroachment because they were able to recover their page after a few hours. Her Campus Nationals is helping to try and get the erased content back, but chances of that happening seem low. “While the hacking was a setback, it really served as a revival of our mission and our voice. We’re feeling more empowered than ever because we’ve been able to get the account back, get more support, gain more followers, and have our team on board,” Fernandez said. Her Campus persevered with their goal to empower women despite this intrusion of their page and saw it as motivation to continue putting out content that confirms their values. “I guess I want to thank them [the hacker] for opening our eyes up. It wasn’t an ideal situation but they really pushed us to work even harder to have our voices be even more unapologetic, sincere, and empowering,” said Fernandez. “We handled this, we’re going to keep rising above.” Illustration by Christine Ho | Layout Editor

Students Organize Demonstration in Response to Fraternity Incidents KYLE DENT | A.S. Beat Reporter

n Oct. 31, near The Arbor, a demonstration was held in support of survivors of sexual violence following at least five counts of sexual assault in Isla Vista during the month of October. Organized by campus activist groups UCSB Intersectional Feminists, Take Back the Night, and M.U.J.E.R., hundreds of UCSB students came together to acknowledge survivors, provide education and resources, and “demand accountability” from the university. Groups like CARE, CAPS, Catcalls of Santa Barbara, and Students against Sexual Assault also aided in the demonstration. A petition was circulated, stating that signatories stand with survivors, and that they will do what they can to ensure well-being, support, and safety for survivors. Furthermore, the petition (which has garnered nearly 1,100

signatures) called for more transparency and communication from the university regarding how they plan to handle allegations of sexual assault, as well as how they plan to keep survivors supported. Alana Ulloa, a second year history major, and Ky Youssef, a third year sociology and environmental studies major (two representatives of UCSB Intersectional Feminists), as well as Eli Diaz (a second year pre-economics major and independent activist) helped set up the demonstration and talked with The Bottom Line about their hopes for the event. While some UCSB students misidentified it as a protest, Ulloa was quick to clarify that “this is not a protest,” specifying that they were not protesting against fraternities or Greek life, with Diaz adding that “first and foremost, we’re here in solidarity with survivors.” Ulloa, Youssef, and Diaz ex-

pressed dissatisfaction with the response from the university regarding the five attacks in Isla Vista. “It feels like survivors are not being acknowledged … we need more and better communication from the school,” said Youssef. Some participants at the demonstration agreed, with one anonymous student telling The Bottom Line, “As a survivor … these emails are not good for my PTSD … constantly [appearing in my inbox] with triggering language,” another saying the emails made them feel “upset and scared,” and another visitor saying, “It just feels like a box being checked off … nothing more.” Diaz also cited the lack of transparency between the school and the student body regarding demands written two years ago. On May 3, 2017, a group of students led a sit-in at Cheadle Hall and presented demands to Chancellor Henry T. Yang, Vice Chan-

cellor of Student Affairs Margaret Klawunn, and Associated Students Executive Director Marisela Marquez, who signed off on them after hours of negotiation. However, according to Diaz, the university has not communicated their progress effectively, as promised in the final demand of the document. This claim is at least partially substantiated — for example, the university has not fulfilled (or communicated that they have fulfilled) the first demand, which states that UCSB will “create and fund a survivor resource center …” The eighth demand, which states that the university must work with Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) to add street lighting in I.V., also has not seen much progress. This demand is an item IVCSD President Spencer Brandt is still working to secure funding on, as stated in a October 2 A.S. senate meeting. One student, Ryan Long, a

fourth year engineering major, felt that “the university … fails to give survivors agency,” with third-year biopsychology major Natasha Auer adding that “it feels like they have their own interests at heart … at the end of the day, [the administration] doesn’t go home to Isla Vista.” According to Diaz, this is only the first step. “This is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation that needs to happen … Demands were made in 2014 and 2017 … but not followed up on.” However, UCSB Intersectional Feminists plans to continue the movement, and help survivors as best they can. Students against Sexual Assault will be hosting a town hall on sexual assault at the Loma Peloma Center on Nov. 14 from 6-8 p.m. Sherry Jamez Zeng and Noe Padilla contributed reporting to this article. Photo by Noe Padilla | News Editor

Opinions expressed in TBL do not necessarily represent those of the staff or UCSB. All submissions, questions or comments may be directed to editors@bottomlineucsb.com

Layout Editor | Melody Li Pages 4, 5, 6 Layout Editor | Amanda Wang Pages 10, 11, 12 Layout Editor | Christine Ho Pages 7, 8, 9 Social Media Coordinator | Esther Liu

Marketing Director | Madeleine Korn Advertising Director | Jonathan Chavez Web Editor | Darragh Burke Comic Artist | Jake Ortega

REDACT IN PREVIOUS ISSUE: We incorrectly previewed the Opinions Hex Girl article on page 11. The article can be found on our website. On page 2, we misspelled A.S. Senator's Kimia Hadidi's name.

NEWS | 3

SIZZLING LUNCH The New Hot Spot in I.V. LINDA CHONG | Copy Editor

s you walk towards Amazon to pick up the cotton swabs you ordered, you notice the bustling scene next door. Inside you can see waiters rushing to attend to every empty cup and hand raised. Couples and friends gather in front of what you once knew as 212° Hotpot, now an unfamiliar, different name. "What is this," they may ask themselves. Well that, my friends, is Sizzling Lunch. Sizzling Lunch is the newest dining experience in I.V., originally a NorCal chain now serving Asian cuisine to our little college town. Compared to the current selection of I.V. foods, Sizzling Lunch brings a new, refreshing change that many people seem to enjoy. In an interview with The Bottom Line, Operational Manager Dillion Le clarified how Sizzling Lunch’s pride is the “enjoyment of watching your food cook right in front of your eyes,” an idea that was adopted from Japan. Sizzling Lunch wants to create a chance for you to take part

4 | FEATURES

in preparing your meal. This involvement of the customer contributing to their meal begins the moment they pick their dish and any customizable add-ons. Even in the cooking procedure, the waiter serves food and instructs the customer to flip the meat and add their signature sauces to their liking. Considering this process, the point is this: Sizzling Lunch is tailored to you. Sizzling Lunch also considers the health of our community in Santa Barbara by using the freshest ingredients for a better taste and healthier alternative. “We … try to cut as much fat as possible to provide you guys the leanest beef in the house. That way, our beef provides more proteins and zinc to better your health,” said Le. Using fresh ingredients, Sizzling Lunch proudly presents their most popular dish, the beef pepper rice, which is usually ordered with add-ons such as fried garlic, kimchi, cheese, or egg. With the help of their housemade sauces, garlic shoyu and sweet teriyaki are meant to “en-

hance and add flavors to all … dishes.” Overall, Sizzling Lunch is a great addition to the selection of I.V. foods that we’re all used to. Despite the slightly intimidating price, many students have acknowledged a great satisfaction to their meals in Sizzling Lunch. It’s honestly a great spot for a memorable date that leaves you thinking you’re meant-to-be after ordering similar add-ons. Sizzling Lunch is currently hiring, and “wants to become a platform for the younger generation to learn about business, communication, hospitality, and most importantly, hard work.” For Dillion Le, Sizzling Lunch provided an opportunity to progress and grow as a young entrepreneur. He hopes to “impact and give hopefully anybody here the same opportunity and growth that Sizzling Lunch has provided” for him. Submit your resume to sizzlinglunchsantabarbara@gmail. com for a full or part-time job! Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia

Sizzling Lunch is the newest dining experience in IV, originally a NorCal chain now serving Asian cuisine to our little college town. Compared to the current selection of IV fo ods, Sizzling Lunch brings a new, refreshing change that many people seem to enjoy.

Ady Barkan Screens Groundbreaking Uncovered Series at UC Santa Barbara EDWARD COLMENARES | Contributing Writer

n Oct. 29 at UCSB’s Pollock Theater, activist Ady Barkan premiered his short video series "Uncovered: Health Care Conversations With Ady Barkan." Through a sequence of interviews with current Democratic presidential candidates and their accounts of unaffordable, serious illness, the production brings to light the immense struggles Americans face when dealing with the U.S. healthcare system. Barkan filmed interviews with candidates Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Julián Castro, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders. He asked them hard-pressed questions regarding their plan of action in bettering or removing current healthcare policies. The

interviews also go on to more personal matters and question the candidates about the loss of family members and their own individual wishes for a legacy. Ady Barkan himself was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in late 2016 and has firsthand experience with the extensive flaws within the healthcare system and its unaffordability. The loving husband and father is now constrained to an electric wheelchair and computer vocalizing system as his motor skills no longer function. However, he is not held back in his inspiring undaunted cause to reach affordable healthcare for all Americans. Since his diagnosis, Barkan has gone on to form an independent Political Action Committee (PAC) known as the Be a

Hero organization which campaigns for social welfare policies and challenges self interest in politics. Other filmed interviews presented in the production were conducted with a combination of everyday Americans and nurses who directly witnessed the fallacies within the healthcare system. The unfortunate conclusions of these interviews were either with the death of a patient or the patient being seriously financially indebted to the government. The screening of the series was accompanied by a Q&A session with Barkan himself, the lead production videographer, and Liz Jaff, the president of the Be a Hero PAC. Questions covered were in relation to the making of the series, the policies

surrounding the interviewed candidates, and Ady Barkan’s journey with battling ALS. Barkan made it a point to clarify that Joe Biden was the only candidate who did not issue a response to the invitation and was not willing to be interviewed by his pressing questions. The Bottom Line spoke with

vote … if students want to decide who’s going to be the president of the United States, they need to vote in the primary … that is the most important thing they can do.” “I think that the only way we will get transformative change in this country is if students and young people lead the way

“I think that the only way we will get transformative change in this country is if students and young people lead the way forward,” Mr. Barkan expressed through his text-to-speech computer system. Liz Jaff after the screening to get a better insight of Ady Barkan’s connection to UCSB. “He lives in Santa Barbara, loves the school, and his wife is a teacher here.” Barkan’s wife, Rachel King, is an English literature professor at UCSB. Jaff also shared that Barkan “is very much into student activism” and “would love [students] to be staging sit-ins … doing massive marches.” Jaff also offered some advice regarding student protesting concluded to “cause as much disruption as you can until your school notices.” The final piece of information Jaff shared regarding student involvement in politics was “make sure you’re registered to

forward,” Mr. Barkan expressed through his text-to-speech computer system. Photo Courtesy of UCSB

5 | FEATURES

&Salsa with

Strictly Social ZARA FURTARO - QUESENBERRY | Contributing Writer

Five, six, seven, eight! On Nov. 3, UCSB’s Strictly Social dance club hosted Chips & Salsa, their quarterly evening of social dancing fun. With a professional DJ, mood lighting, and a welcoming posse of passionate, friendly instructors, this event was a perfect way to escape the stress of midterms while experiencing a new culture. Salsa, an upbeat partner-dance that originated in Eastern Cuba, is a widely popular dance style all across Latin America and the U.S. Its roots are in Afro-Caribbean son and Rumba dance rhythms, but it has been heavily influenced by American jazz, and regional styles differ greatly in both dance steps and instrumentals. Salsa is a recurring favorite dance style of Strictly Social, which hosts casual weekly dance nights that alternate between salsa family dances (salsa, bachata, and kizomba), and west coast swing and blues. Dancers with all levels of experience are welcome, with the focus being individual improvement, cultural exposure,

and — most importantly — creativity and social fun. The $10 salsa event began at 7 p.m. with an hour-long salsa lesson, which was attended by about 10 people. It covered four or five basic steps, then introduced a few extra trills and turns to add flair. By the end of the lesson, everyone was able to go through dance steps without instructor guidance and create their own step patterns. At 8 p.m., people began to trickle in for the social dancing segment of the evening. For the next few hours, salsa dancers from both UCSB and the general Santa Barbara area met new partners to practice their moves to a constant flow of upbeat, rhythm-heavy salsa music. The two lesson instructors, both of whom are Strictly Social board members, clearly expressed their love of social dancing, and their desire to introduce it to the wider UCSB community. John, a Strictly Social co-director, explained that the “idea is to make sure that everybody can find a place that they can dance,” indicating the inclusiveness of the

club. John himself began dancing with UCSB Cotillion Dance, a competitive ballroom club, before branching out and focusing on salsa at Strictly Social, which “gives people a chance to exercise their social side, rather than their competitive side.” Mariah, the publicist and facilities board manager, comes from a more traditional studio dance background, but transitioned to partner dancing in college because of the social aspect. She expressed her love of partner dancing and her desire to get more people into it, explaining that “you get a lot out of it,” because of the invaluable practice of social dancing after the lesson. In addition to weekly events, the club organizes carpools to larger dance events in both L.A. and SLO, for more exposure to bigcity dance scenes. Two event attendees were Sophie, a UCSB student, and her father, Jesse, who was in town for parents' weekend. Despite their zero previous experience with salsa, they both found it “super fun,” and “pretty easy to follow.” So-

This event was a unique and underrated way to meet new people, listen to great music, and find a new form of fun, creative expression, all while munching on your favorite chip and dip!

6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

phie, having found the Chips & Salsa event through the parents’ weekend schedule, said she was definitely planning on attending future weekly dance events. This event was a unique and underrated way to meet new people, listen to great music, and find a new form of fun, creative expression, all while munching on your favorite chip and dip! Strictly Social holds weekly dance nights in the UCen Hub, with beginner lessons from 8 p.m. to

9 p.m. and social dancing until 11:30 p.m., so if you’re scrambling for an exciting new activity to cure your Monday blues, swing by for a saucy night of rhythmic fun! Illustration by Christine Ho | Layout Editor

Meet Hojean: a Rising

Korean-American R&B Artist SHEILA TRAN | Senior Copy Editor

look at his social media platforms will show that Georgia-based independent R&B artist Justin Hojean Yi, better known by the moniker Hojean, is a bit of an anomaly in the indie music world. His Instagram is filled with close-up selfies, silly edits, and a sizable amount of caps lock and exclamation points. The best words to describe him would be honest and wholehearted — Hojean isn’t at all about putting on a front or playing up a “mysterious artist” archetype. And it’s working. His mentions are flooded with dedicated fans who promote his music and jump at any chance to talk to him. Hojean averages around 150 comments on each Instagram post, which is a higher engagement rate than most artists who have triple his follower count. “I genuinely love them so much. Sometimes, I’ll get on the verge of tears just thinking about it. Because like no one supported me like that ever,” he says fondly. “I’d say that my fans are really like family to me.” Originally from New York, the 21-year-old Korean-American singer, writer, producer, and visual artist handles every aspect of his music production and promotion from the comfort of his bedroom. Fans of luminaries like Omar Apollo and Pink Sweat$ will enjoy his music, which is driven by pop and R&B sensibilities. The Bottom Line sat down for a phone interview with Hojean to chat about his background and musical journey. As an artist who almost ex-

clusively sings about love, it’s no surprise that Hojean’s story starts with a simple feeling. He recalls a specific moment from when he was 17-years-old and had just transferred to a new high school. Quiet and relatively unknown to his peers at the time, he noticed that the girl he had a crush on was working for the school talent show. Drawn to the opportunity to make new friends and maybe even impress his crush, Hojean stepped on stage for the first time. “ W h e n I heard their reactions and their applause, I think right then and there I wanted to make music. Like, forever.” Within a year, Hojean was writing his own songs. One night at 3 a.m., he recorded the vocals for an early version of “My Love” on a random free beat he found on YouTube. A remix by Canadian producer Loto would propel the song to become Hojean’s highest-streamed song on Spotify, with over 400,000 plays. Its popularity led to a feature in popular YouTuber Connor Frata’s Common Culture 8, a curated collection of indie music that previously highlighted art-

ists like Billie Eilish. From there, Hojean signed his first publishing deal with Sony/ATV Publishing. “I’m extremely grateful for [Loto], because that ‘My Love’ remix that he did — or which is now the original — it definitely helped put me on the map. So I’m extremely grateful that he popped up in my life.”

At 19, without any prior formal music training, Hojean taught himself to play guitar and produce his own music. His motivation, he explains, comes from a desire to impart a lesson and feeling on his listeners. “You Need Serenity” was written about a toxic relationship and still attracts fans who share that the song gave them the courage to leave their own unhealthy partners.

But it wasn’t always smooth-sailing. In 2018, Hojean experienced a nine-month hiatus from making music, which he explains was because of his anxiety over the possibility of listeners not liking his next track. At the end of that period, he forced himself to get out of bed and found himself at Goodwill, where he saw a $60 broken guitar on sale. Initially, he wasn’t going to buy it. He was almost out the door when a complete stranger stopped him. She urged Hojean to follow her back inside to her husband, a professional guitar player who encouraged him to take the chance and buy the guitar. He never saw the couple again. With that guitar, however, he produced “Memory,” an immediate fan favorite and currently one of his highest-streamed songs on Spotify. Hojean's journey seems to be full of small miracles like this one. “They were almost like guardian angels, in a way.” he says, and there’s sincerity in his voice. He’s calling from his bedroom in Georgia, straight off a shift at his Korean parents’ dry-clean-

ing business, where he currently works full time. He laughs sheepishly when I ask what his average day looks like and says it’s not much of a “cool life” — he goes to work, comes home, works on music, goes to sleep, and then the cycle repeats. But he’s excited for the future. Hojean is still exploring and developing his sound, and for now, he’s focused on releasing more singles that showcase his musical diversity. For Hojean, he has big dreams: he wants Hojean to blow up, get on the radio, tour, maybe even do something worldwide; most of all, he wants to make sure his aging parents are financially secure. He shares that he’s releasing a new single titled “You Feel Like” soon — just two months after “Let Me,” marking his shortest gap between releases yet. “I want to do music every day of my life. So I’d say that’s definitely Hojean’s goal. Justin’s goal is … just to be part of the ride.” New to Hojean? Check out some of his recommendations for new fans: “If you’re feeling sad … listen to ‘Memory,’ because it’s an upbeat track about moving on. If you’re feeling in love, listen to ‘Let Me.’ If you’re feeling lost, listen to ‘You Need Serenity,’ because that song helped a lot of people and helped me too.” Interested in profiling an upand-coming artist or band for The Bottom Line? Reach out to arts@ bottomlineucsb.com. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7

A Closer Look at UCSB's

Anthropology Department LAUREN LUNA | Contributing Writer

hen most people hear about anthropology, they either think of Indiana Jones or overpriced vintage clothes from the mall. What many don’t know about anthropology, however, is how much we have learned from the field’s developments. Anthropology literally translates to “study of man.” From our most ancient origins to the social systems of our present, anthropology studies every aspect of the human experience. Our knowledge on phenomena including human evolution, the development of civilization, the beginnings of social hierarchy, and the spread of different cultural practices all derives from anthropology. Concerned with all aspects of humanity, both scientific and social, anthropology lies at the intersection between the natural sciences and the humanities. Because anthropology is based on something as broad as humankind, it can be divided into multiple disciplines. The anthropology major at UCSB offers three concentrations: archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Each

8 | SCIENCE & TECH

concentration analyzes a different part of the field. Cultural anthropology looks at our various ethnic communities around the world, archaeology studies our beginnings as people, and biological anthropology concerns our anatomical and behavioral patterns. What makes the anthropology department at UCSB so unique is the global nature of its research. UCSB anthropology staff members have performed work in over thirty countries, including Egypt, Morocco, India, and South Korea. Recently, Professor Barbara Herr Harthorn announced her plan to investigate societal concerns with two National Science Foundation projects to create artificial life. In this case, anthropology works to maintain ethical understanding within scientific progress. Archaeology professor Stuart Smith has even worked for research on movies including "Stargate," "The Mummy," and "The Mummy Returns." Demand for anthropologists in industries including journalism, medical science, marketing, and — in this case — entertainment, has been

“Sometimes I’ll get asked if I study skulls, but I don’t because I study sociocultural anthropology,” said Abaza in an interview with The Bottom Line. “I think if anthropologists wrote more for the public, we could reduce these misconceptions.”

on the rise. Every field of study concerns anthropology because the human experience is everywhere. Despite the vast reach of anthropological understanding, the study remains underrepresented. The field’s lack of dialogue amongst the public, due to its limited accessibility in publicized media, leaves individuals especially vulnerable to misconceptions surrounding its subjects. Graduate student Gehad Abaza says that one of the most common misconceptions people make about anthropology is about its broad scope. As a sociocultural anthropology student, her field of study deals with civic constructs among people rather than their physiological features and tendencies. “Sometimes I’ll get asked if I study skulls, but I don’t because I study sociocultural anthropology,” said Abaza in an interview with The Bottom Line. “I think if anthropologists wrote more for the public, we could reduce these misconceptions.” In the years leading up to college, we don’t often hear about

anthropology in school; hence, it’s easy for misinterpretations of the subject to occur. Abaza hopes that if anthropologists create more content for a broader audience, people will understand the extent to which anthropology plays a role in our lives. Though anthropology has a smaller research base, it is a steadily growing industry both at UCSB and in the United States. The rise of a global culture drives this growth. As we become more interconnected and aware of our identities as human beings, anthropology becomes integral to understanding our past, present, and future. Illustration by Lauren Luna | Contributing Illustrator

Five Questions with Professor Winant on Racial Theory CHARLOTTE HOVEY | Contributing Writer

r. Howard Winant is a professor of sociology at UCSB who started teaching during the 1970s. Along with Michael Omi, Winant developed the racial formation theory: a framework that looks at race as a fluid, socially constructed identity. On the morning of Oct. 31, he answered five questions about his life’s work and findings in an interview with The Bottom Line. What inspired you to pursue your career in sociology and racial theory and when did that inspiration occur? Winant chalked it up to being a child of the 1960s, a period with a social and political “atmosphere of urgency” that moved many young people to action. Issues of war, racism, second wave feminism, and the environment came to the forefront. The Vietnam War loomed overhead as a huge threat. While Winant wasn’t drafted himself, he acknowledged that someone went in his place. Seeing his friends affected by war and witnessing deep racism motivated him to become involved. He lamented that unfortunately people don’t mobilize until problems personally and directly threaten them. Youth today need to be much more insistent about tackling issues like climate change, but lack that sense of urgency. Winant questioned the political involvement of today’s youth: “Okay in five years, my house is gonna be burned down and I’m not gonna be able

to breathe, but right now everything’s cool, I’m gonna watch Netflix.” How has being a white man affected your experience of studying racial issues? Winant said he didn't feel “100 percent white” because of his Jewish descent. His parents were Jewish refugees, and — considering World War II and the Holocaust — he felt he could identify anti-Semitism as racism. However, “all of us … even white, white, white people … have something going on in their lives which can make them recognize inequality, injustice, racism.” White women, for example, may experience sexism. Even white men may experience aggrieved entitlement when a dominant class expects certain luxuries, and — when denied them — they blame minorities. “It walls you off, it fills you with anger, maybe fear, res e n t m e n t ,” Winant said. The self-limiting nature of white privilege is one reason

why Winant is hopeful that white men may progress beyond the narrow mindset of entitlement. You have been studying race for a really long time. How much has stayed consistent in racial dynamics through the present political climate? According to Winant, racial dynamics shift based on how much we question them and take them for granted. While the amount of questioning goes up and down, we still take very much for granted. Concepts of race and racism are highly unstable. Attitudes are surely better than they used to be, for example, in the Jim Crow era, when racial subordination was seen as normal. It was taken for granted that

“people of color were naturally inferior, though this was completely unjustified.” While the most egregious forms of racism have mostly passed, Winant noted, things haven’t gotten much better since about 1975. Racial segregation of schools, work, and neighborhoods persist. When we stop taking racial dynamics for granted and start questioning them, Winant concludes, it’s scary and disheartening, but motivating for us to see. What was lacking in racial studies that encouraged you to make the theory of racial formation? Winant said that he and his co-author had only restated things that people already knew but hadn’t put together. The theory of racial formation was conceived to prevent people from reducing race to an illusion, nonexistence, or simply a cultural or class difference. Though racial distinctions lack a biological basis, race is somet h i n g

“that’s been around for centuries and centuries and has structured all of society.” Though it may be a “mass delusion,” it’s massive enough to shape the whole world and can’t be simply dismissed. Thus, what was missing was people’s acknowledgement of race and racism in their own right. “We have to be race-conscious,” Winant said. Only then can we overcome racial inequality and injustice. How can we overcome such injustices as individuals? Winant countered, “The real question is, how can we be more political, how can we be more collective?” He recommended the creation and strengthening of groups “to fight and protest, object, and break the norms where they enforce racist or economic, sexist or whatever injustices.” There are always opportunities to collectively challenge injustices, and we must make constructive demands from the structures that maintain inequality. Winant quoted the last words of Joe Hill, a labor organizer folk singer executed for being too radical: “Don’t mourn for me! Organize!” Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

OPINIONS | 9

High Class Broke...

Broqué ALYSSA LONG | Art Director

eing a college student with expensive taste is like having an extra layer in your hierarchy of needs that never truly gets fulfilled. Miranda Priestly lives in a penthouse at the top of the hierarchy, squinting judgmentally as you spend your disposable income on textbooks. Sometimes it isn’t just the $2.78 in your bank account that makes you feel poor. It could be the 8 a.m. midterm you just crawled out of after pulling an all-nighter. Maybe you wore pajamas to class once and now you can’t stop. Perhaps you decided to study downtown and found yourself in a Starbucks line, contrasting sharply with a squad of Montecito moms who look about your

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age. Before you decide to drop out and join them, here are some tips for embellishing your lifestyle on a budget — and no, I don’t mean decorating your window sills with empty alcohol bottles. The most obvious way to express your excellent taste is through your wardrobe, and what better way to do this on the cheap than to go thrifting? Alpha and Destined for Grace in Goleta are a couple of local and inexpensive treasure troves, but don’t be discouraged by the aisles of grandma cardigans and high school orchestra t-shirts. The trick is to have patience, go often, and look through everything. For best results, try shopping for what looks good on you rather than going for trends that will quickly fall out of style. Ask

the employees when exactly they put new items out so that you can have first pick. If you’re looking for a more curated selection, try Crossroads or Punch on State Street. Now that you’re dressed to the nines at a fraction of the price, your home needs the same treatment. If your mood is a direct reflection of your space, then you will inevitably feel like a pauper when your housemate stacks empty Bud Light boxes and calls it a shelving unit. Décor simply requires a bit of creativity. You can buy old records for about a dollar each from a local thrift shop and hang them up for a vintage vibe. Opt for preowned, framed artwork or mirrors to class up your space, and invest in some inexpensive can-

dles for an element of luxury. If you’re willing to get crafty, learn how to macramé a wall tapestry or DIY some hanging shelves, both of which are much easier and cheaper to make than you might expect. Thrift some fancy dishware, so that even if you’re eating instant ramen again, you’re doing so in style. The next logical step is to feel expensive on the inside. A skincare routine, no matter how basic, is a great way to end the day when you’re mentally and motivationally bankrupt. Serums from The Ordinary are under 10 dollars, and your skin will have no idea you didn’t break the bank. Brew yourself some tea, put on a drugstore face mask, and take some much-needed time to re-charge.

Finally, you must protect this wealth of positive energy you’ve accrued. If time is money, the fastest way to go broke is by over-committing yourself. Learn to say “no” to things and people that unnecessarily drain you. Schedule time for creative endeavors, trips to the beach, study breaks, volunteer work, people who uplift and motivate you, and anything else you might need to remain sane amidst the quarter system mania. While Isla Vista living might be worlds away from your Kardashian aspirations, with a little strategy and creativity, you can live expensively without much expense. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

Comic of the Week

Comic by Jake Ortega | Comic Artist

The Balance Between

Work, School, and Play MADISON KIRKPATRICK | Campus Beat Reporter

ere at UCSB, it’s not uncommon to be as involved as possible. I am one of these people who are extremely involved. My positions include working as a cashier at Paper Source, interning at Paseo Nuevo, interning at the UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts Department (HFA), pledging for community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, serving as director of membership for UCSB’s Communication Association, and last but far from least, working as a campus beat reporter for TBL. People often ask me why I take on so much. Considering that only half of it is paid, it might seem like lots of extra work for little reward. But to me, the reward it brings is worth more than money. Being a part of community service is important to me, and as an aspiring social

worker, it’s crucial to have these connections. My HFA internship allows me to hone my reporting skills in an intimate setting, and being part of this group has taught me valuable communication and social skills. At UCSB, it is the norm to be involved with work or extracurriculars. Second-year pharmacology major Maya Teitz is my co-worker at Paper Source. In addition to her job at Paper Source (she is currently on a break), she works at two restaurants on campus and does research in a lab. In an interview with TBL, she said, “Honestly, if you are willing to work hard it isn’t too bad. The biggest drawbacks are that you can’t really have time to devote yourself to a hobby, and scheduling two things around each other can be really difficult.” We all wonder if being so

responsible is a good thing, and choose not be overly involved in I often second guess whether or order to focus on self-care and not I should be doing so much education. even though I love it all. I think First-year pre-biology major about the sacrifices I can make. Natalia Apffel is pledging Alpha Can I pledge another quarter? Do Phi Omega, but this is her only I need a cashier job? Do I need commitment other than school. school? My mom would kill me She likes the freedom she is given if I asked her that, but it’s so true. by purposefully not over-comThere are certainly disadvan- mitting herself. “Being a first tages to being so involved — for year and transitioning to college instance, you might be dou- life can be tough, which is why I ble-booked for responsibilities. wanted to limit how much I got I’ve had many issues with sched- involved with in terms of clubs uling; I often get double-booked and such. It’s still difficult getting at Paseo and Paper Source, leav- the hang of everything but I’m ing me to try to compensate. glad I found a support system While it may not be my fault and friends so quickly by joining that a manager got my schedule a club.” incorrect, it is important to hold Not being overly involved myself accountable for doing so may have its disadvantages, but much. it can help you more than you While many may say that think. If an emergency comes up UCSB promotes burnout, it’s and you are not super booked for important to consider the choic- the day, you’ll be able to tend to es you make. Many students will the emergency without having to

worry about missing something important. We make choices every day even though we may not realize it. The choices you make can directly influence your college experience and your life in the real world. It’s nobody’s decision but yours to be over- or under-involved. Just remember that no matter what choice you make, you have the right and responsibility to weigh the risks and rewards. Illustration by Drew Buchanan | Staff Illustrator

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H I P -H O P O R C H ES T R A p

A dancer has joined the stage performing hip-hop moves synchronized with the rhythm of the music and spotlights.

Photos by SANNE MOLENAAR | Contributing Photographer

Camp-

bell Hall fills up with people while the Ensemble Mik Nawooj orchestra finishes up its final preparations backstage.

A fam-

ily of three purchases tickets for the event whilst others in line excitedly discuss their expectations of the

Composer Joowan Kim and the lead singer enter their

show.

second song, combining classical and hip-hop music.

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