University of California, Santa Barbara || Volume XIII, Issue II || Oct. 10, 2018 || BottomLineUCSB.com NEWS
FEATURES
OPINIONS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SCIENCE & TECH
Buddy makes IV First Friday a hit On Oct. 5, 8 P.M., Buddy performed at People’s Park in I.V., accompanied with food, games, and music. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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UCPD CRIME STATS FOR 2018
KCSB PRESENTS
The UC has recently announced that it will commit more than seven million dollars to expand existing programs in order to “increase faculty diversity as well as create new ones.”
On Saturday, October 6th, KCSB presented a free show at the Stroke Plaza Courtyard, introducing alternative, underground artists in Santa Barbara.
NEWS
FEATURES
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PHOTO
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
2 | NEWS
UCPD Crime Stats for 2018
Better Education Leads to More Reporting ISABELLA ROTHENBERG
The 2018 Annual Security Report (ASR) released by the UC Police Department (UCPD) shows an increase in sex and dating related crimes when compared to the couple years before. The report, as mandated by the Clery Act—a federal statute signed in 1990—requires UCSB to disclose campus crime statistics and security information. The purpose of the report is to keep UCSB students and faculty safe and informed, providing them with details about topics such as rape, theft, and drug and alcohol related violations from the past three years. While these statistics may initially seem concerning, according to the security report, the increased reports of sex and dating related crimes is simply due to “ongoing campus education about recognizing and reporting interpersonal violence.” Still, students may ask what this statement really means or wonder what UCSB has been doing to increase the rate of crimes being reported, as well as to decrease the amount of actual crimes being committed. According to Sergeant Robert Romero of the UCPD, the most important thing that the school can do to increase reports of sexual violence is to educate students in recognizing and reporting these instances. In a statement to The Bottom Line, Romero said “the campus is committed to increase awareness, outreach and educate our com-
munity,” which has been largely due to the efforts of the Clery Coordinator, the Title IX Office, and UCSB Campus Advocacy Resources and Education Center (CARE). In regards to more specific actions being taken, UCPD has been teaming up with CARE in order to increase survivors’ access to formal reporting systems, offer information about their rights, and have them feel generally more empowered and supported. The way to do this, according to Briana Conway, director of CARE services, is “to stay engaged and involved with CARE and others’ prevention education efforts through programs like Awareness Month, Green Dot Bystander Intervention programs, and so much more.” By doing this, Conway explained that UCSB will not only continue to increase the instances of these crimes being reported, but also “will allow for us to create a campus culture where survivors are believed and violence will not be accepted.” However, sex and dating related crimes are not the only topic discussed in the security report. Another important group of statistics are those regarding drug and liquor law violations. The number of these violations actually appears to be on the decline, with liquor law violations referred for disciplinary action decreasing from 412 violations in 2015 to 370 violations in 2017. Additionally, drug law violations referred for disciplinary action decreased from 210 to
118 between 2015 and 2017. This could cause some students to believe that UCSB is beginning to shed it’s “party school” reputation, especially after the school was ranked as the number five public school in the nation by US News. However, when comparing UCSB with other schools in the UC system, the university has a higher percentage of arrests and disciplinary actions. When comparing the school’s crime statistics with UCLA, UC Davis, and UC Berkeley, UCSB has far more drug and liquor law violations than the other universities. The 2016 data shows the school having almost ten times more liquor law violation arrests than UC Berkeley, and 164 times more disciplinary actions for drug abuse than UC Davis. All of this information on the level of crime at UCSB may cause some concern to students. Still, the university has resources for students and faculty who are dealing with issues of interpersonal violence, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. CARE and UCSB ADP are resources designed to support people dealing with these types of problems, both of which are easily accessible with the purpose of getting people help. The oncampus CARE office is located in the women’s center of the SRB, and the UCSB APD has an office in Isla Vista, as well as a website with information about their services.
Image Courtesy of The Bottom Line Stock
TBL 2018-2019 STAFF Correction: In Volume 13, Issue 1, UCSB’s environmental studies program was said to have 5,000 alumni, rather than the correct number 7,000.
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
Editor-in-Chief | Alex Yam
Features Editor | Victoria Penate
Managing Editor | Mable Truong
Arts & Entertainment Editor | Addison
Digital Photo Editor | Dominick Ojeda
Copy Editor | Sheila Tran Copy Editor | Mckinsey FIdellow
Executive Content Editor| Lauren Marnel
Morris
Print Photo Editor |Juan Gonzalez
Layout Editor | Natalie Dye
Shores
Science & Tech Editor | Hannah
Marketing Director | Erica Kaplan
Layout Editor | Chrissy Cho
Senior Copy Editor | Spencer Wu
Maerowitz
Campus Beat Reporter | Minh Hua
Layout Editor | Vivianna Shields
Co-News Editor | Arturo Samaniego
Opinions Editor | Jessica Gang
Isla Vista Beat Reporter | Alondra Sierra
Web Editor | Docean Park
Co-News Editor | Annette Ding
Video Editor | Fabiola Esqueda
National Beat Reporter | Jacob Wong
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
3 | NEWS
Photo by Juan Gonzalez | Print Photo Editor
UCSB Housing Voucher Program
Voucher Program Assists Students Through Housing Emergencies MORGAN AZEVEDO Staff Writer
College students at UCSB and across the nation are struggling to afford the cost of basic needs such as food and housing, in addition to increasing tuition rates. In order to alleviate some of these living expenses, UCSB Student Affairs has announced the soft opening of the new Housing Voucher program, designed to offer students short-term, last-resort aid for housing emergencies and food insecurity. For UCSB students, the cost of living in Isla Vista is 49 percent higher than the national average, making it especially difficult for them to afford to pay for food and rent. Rent in Isla Vista is notoriously expensive, averaging $1370 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, although prices can run much higher. According to the Santa Barbara Independent, a campus survey found that as many as
eight percent of students have experienced bouts of homelessness while at UCSB. Students without a stable home reported sleeping on friends’ couches, camping out in campus offices or parks, and living out of their cars. Ethan Escobedo, a thirdyear transfer student, spoke to The Bottom Line about his struggles with housing insecurity. “Until three days ago,” he said, “I was just living in my car. I had a lease that ended in June and I didn’t want to take up another lease, so I’ve just been crashing, couch surfing until I transferred here.” The quarter system makes it especially hard on students, since school begins at the end of the month and leases typically begin at the start of the month. “But financial aid isn’t distributed until the 17th,” Escobedo said. “And so that doesn’t align very well.” In terms of food insecurity, a 2016 survey by the UC
Regents revealed that 19 percent of student respondents at UC campuses described themselves as having very low food security, defined as “experiencing reduced food intake at times due to limited resources.” An additional 23 percent described themselves as having low food security, or “reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet.” According to the Associated Students Food Bank, an organization that provides free food and toiletries to students, more than 12 percent of UCSB students made use of the their resources in the 2016-2017 academic year. Two-thirds of those students frequented the food bank multiple times per month, elucidating the extent of the food insecurity issue. UCSB offers aid for students in several forms, from student loans to grants to specific programs like the AS Food Bank. Each endeavors to tackle expenses
like medical, residential, and education-related fees. However, there is a clear need for additional financial help, particularly for the housing and food-insecure population. The Housing Voucher program seeks to address students’ needs for help paying for urgent matters which can arise unexpectedly and jeopardize students’ ability to graduate on time. The Housing Voucher program offers students vouchers worth 50, 150, and 500 dollars for housing emergencies, including food insecurity. Vouchers can be used for both UCSB and off-campus housing. In order to be eligible, students must have exhausted their available student loans and be able to provide documentation of their needs. Students can apply for a voucher by emailing financialcrisis@sa.ucsb. edu. Michael Miller, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Enrollment
Services, told The Bottom Line, “Traditional financial aid programs make up the overwhelming majority of the resources we have on campus, but more and more we are seeing the need to provide what I like to call safety net resources. That is why we started the Financial Crisis Response Team and this is just another tool we’ll have to help our students.” The program does not claim to provide a permanent solution to the problems of homelessness and food insecurity but instead is one part of a larger UCwide initiative to ensure food and housing security for all students. “We know financial needs come up and when they do, students need help bridging their financial gap,” said Miller. “Homelessness on college campuses is a national conversation and we want to be sure we can get out ahead of the issue with programs like this.”
4 | FEATURES
SABRINA BUI Staff Writer The sound of chatter and the boom of a bassline could be heard in the distance as I approached the Storke Tower courtyard last Saturday, Oct. 6, for an evening of live music hosted by KCSB, the communityfunded radio station at UCSB. It was my first time attending a KCSB event, and the show looked ethereal at first glance. A row of people was standing at the railguard, overlooking the action, their figures illuminated by the glow of col-
ored lights. Below them, the concert formed an animated, neon spot against the dark and quiet of UCSB’s campus on a weekend night. I walked down the steps to enter the event zone, tucked away behind a cluster of buildings. When I entered, there were approximately forty people in attendance. The set up was minimalist in style, and there were no seats other than a few preexisting benches. Merchandise tables lined the stage, advertising promotional items for the artists as well as KCSB. Ranging from Hawaiian shirts to beanies to platform boots, glimpses of distinctive clothing reflected the eclectic nature of the event’s audience. It was an event catered to an alternative crowd, and that crowd was there in full force. With most attendees chatting away in their respective groups, the crowd provided a lively rumble to precede the music. “The crowd here is great,” said [[[personablack]]], an electronic
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018 musician and one of the headliners of the event. “They’re all super friendly.” [[[personablack]]], a Los Angeles artist, made his UCSB appearance during an exceptionally busy year, having released three albums — Michael, The Game, and Man Muzzle — all in 2018. The other headliners of the event included ambient musician Ahnnu and neo-psychedelia band Sun Araw. While these artists were varied in genre, one thing was clear: their music was all far from the typical mainstream content. Playing and producing types of music most haven’t heard before, each of these artists created a distinctly experimental sound. The artists’ interesting characters seemed apt to hold a crowd’s attention. So, it was shocking to see that the crowd was somewhat disinterested by what was happening on stage at first. Despite ongoing performances onstage, audience conversation seemed to take precedence over enjoyment of the musical sets. This changed within minutes as the final headliner, Sun Araw, came on. The once chatty crowd was sud-
denl y silent, making their way to gather in front of the stage and sit down on the ground. As the band members strummed and pounded on their instruments, all that could be seen was the rhythmic bobbing of heads. There was one person standing at the front, bouncing and dancing. Transcending mild interest, Sun Araw captivated their audience to the point that no one was on their phone recording, Snapchatting, or texting. There was a sense of total focus on the music being played: everyone seemed to be entranced by the cacophony of experimental, psychedelic rock. Lasting around twenty minutes, the set was just long enough to energize the crowd into giving a final standing ovation to conclude the event. Once the show was over, people promptly shuffled out into the night, with a handful of people lingering to buy merchandise or chat briefly about what they had just witnessed. As people made their way out, some e x -
claimed to each other about having enjoyed the music, or about their interest in learning more about the artists and the radio station. Through this, it was clear that KCSB Presents made its mark, adding to the independent radio station’s reputation as the tastemaker for alternative and underground music in Santa Barbara. You can tune into KCSB’s radio programming at the frequency 91.9 FM, and learn more at kcsb-radio. dreamhosters.com.
PRESENTING Photo by Charles Stock
5 | FEATURES
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
JONAH GOLDBERG DECLARES T R I B A L I S M T H E “ S U C I D E OF TH E WEST” Goldberg proposed that liberal Democratic capitalism is “the top of the mountain and to go left or right is to go down.”
Photo by Juan Gonzalez | Print Photo Editor
JAROD RAMIREZ Jonah Goldberg, the senior editor of The National Review, visited UC Santa Barbara on Sunday to give a lecture inspired by his recent book, titled “Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Nationalism, Populism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy.” Goldberg, who may be politically categorized as a conservative, is best known for his previous book, titled “Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning.” His lecture drew a sizable audience to Campbell Hall, filling approximately 300 seats. The lecture focused on the current political landscape of America, specifically focusing on the growth of populism and tribalism — both of which Goldberg characterized as great threats to our time, and as forces which are destroying American democracy. Goldberg began his lecture by making light-hearted comments about thriller movies “They Live” and “Goldfinger,” lightening the mood before tackling his primary topic. He also made a few jokes here and there about the “mainstream media” and the education system, all of which garnered laughs from the crowd. One of the main statements from the lecture was that “liberal Democratic capitalism is the best system ever conceived of ” for solving poverty, bridging inequality, and generally improving humanity. His principal point of praise for the system was that it is a man-made “miracle,” which he described as bringing a great deal of benefits and wealth. Goldberg went on to discuss the divisiveness of politics in the United States. He talked a great
deal about tribalism or, as he puts it, the belief that “my team is right and your team is not only wrong, but evil.” He described this as a major problem for the nation, and warned of people receding into their own circles becoming more and more hostile to outsiders. Continuing his analysis of modern American culture, Goldberg stated that traditional institutions — such as the church or nuclear family — are being destroyed by irreverence. He stressed the importance of being grateful for these institutions, adding that the failure to do so may be leading to an overall breakdown of society. As the lecture portion of the event came to a close, Goldberg proposed that liberal Democratic capitalism is “the top of the mountain and to go left or right is to go down.” His concluding observation was that, on a political spectrum, the ideal solutions do not lie fully to the left or right—which he considers tribalistic—but rather, somewhere in the middle. Following a hearty round of applause, a majority of the audience stayed for the 20-minute Q&A session in which Goldberg expanded on his previous points and offered advice to conservative college students. Audience nods were consistently visible in response to Goldberg’s points, and laughs rippled throughout the lecture hall after every joke and political jab. As one of his advisory remarks, Goldberg urged conservative students to confront the issues of “political correctness” and identity politics with actual points—rather than for the sake of attack, or to impress a group of friends.
Layout by Natalie Dye | Layout Editor
6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
Buddy, 25, an American rapper, born and raised from Compton, California.
Photo by Jeilo Guana
7 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
BUDDY at SARAH CARLIN
For the premiere I.V. First Friday event of the 2018-19 school year, up-and-coming Compton rapper Buddy graced the People’s Park stage in I.V. on October 5. A.S. Program Board hosted the free concert with help from sponsors Yerba Mate and KIND Bar. The 25-year-old artist has defied music genre boundaries since producer Pharrell Williams first discovered him at age 15. Williams spotted his freestyle then signed him to his personal record label, i am OTHER, at age 18. Since the beginning of his career, Buddy has been lucky enough to collaborate with big names in the industry, including Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, and Kaytranada. He has already released one mixtape, two EPs, and his debut album, Harlan and Alondra, this past July. In an interview with The Bottom Line, Buddy claimed that one of his biggest influences was growing up in the church, stating, “I grew up in church and lived in the hood so my parents kept me away from all the bad shit that was going on.” In addition to keeping him out of trouble, his roots in the church choir influenced him musically. He said, “It prepared me to be saying a message rather than
saying nothing. My upbringing, I feel like, makes [my music] feel like more of a sermon.” Buddy lastly attributed his entertainment skills to a conservatory he attended growing up, which he says accustomed him to being in front of an audience. Buddy’s talent for entertaining was apparent from the moment he stepped on stage — even after discouraging technical difficulties between the opening act Odie and the main show delayed his performance. He joked with the crowd, danced in between hyping the crowd up, and at times even joined in on the fun, performing right at the barrier and even entering the mosh pit. Second year Jackie Flores and third year Itzayana Lopez appreciated his energy and inclusivity. Flores said, “He wanted to get all of us into the zone,” and Lopez added that she admired that he wasn’t afraid to get right into the crowd, exclaiming, “When do you ever see people do that?” While at the beginning of the set the energy in the crowd was reserved, the more spirit and personality Buddy put in, the more the crowd returned it. About halfway through the set, the whole crowd was dancing and vibing with the music, matching the increased energy of the songs he performed.
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
Buddy pumps up the crowd by performing one of his fast-paced tracks, “Black.” Photo by Jeilo Guana
Although it seemed like many students had just been introduced to Buddy’s music, by the end of the show the mood was energetic and the crowd seemed sad that the show was ending. Flores and Lopez, for example, said that they did not know of Buddy before attending the concert, but by the end of the show, they felt pumped and happy, a sentiment that seemed echoed in the moods of other attendees. In his newest project, “Harlan and Alondra” — which features songs like “The Blue,” featuring Snoop Dogg, and “Trouble on Central” — Buddy continues his pattern of infectious grooves, blending a mix of chill odes to Los Angeles with fast-paced crowdpleasers. Throughout the album, he alternates effortlessly between a carefree, nostalgic tone, and more serious topics such as oppression, the current political atmosphere, and newfound love. He said about “Harlan and Alondra,” which is named after the cross-streets of his childhood home, “I was really trying to depict more of the positive side of Compton — the cool things that go down — rather than what people are expecting to hear from a
IV FIRST FRIDAY
Compton artist.” Earlier in 2018, Buddy went on tour with Joey Bada$$, and he will continue life on the road, touring with Aminé from November through December. When asked what his plans are for recording music in the future, he said that he is full of ideas and energy for new projects, stating, “I’m in the process of finishing a lot of songs, so I’m cool on time. I don’t feel rushed or pressured to put music out.” Buddy added that he is working on a deluxe version of “Harlan and Alondra,” so fans should expect a few more songs in the upcoming months. Once the project is complete, he hopes to begin working on new projects with a variety of producers. He even hinted at
more c o l laboration with Kaytranada in the near future. Though Buddy will not be stopping in Santa Barbara while on tour with Aminé, his new fans made at I.V. First Friday may give him a reason to return again soon.
Layout by Chrissy Cho & Natalie Dye | Layout Editor
8 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
A Peek Inside the Magic Lantern Image Courtesy of The Bottom Line Stock JEREMY LEVINE Staff Writer
A classroom on the weekdays, a movie theater on certain weeknights, and occasionally a cult house (at least when “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” plays), Isla Vista Theater provides more service to the local community than its humble appearance conveys. Surprisingly, the venue does not simply transform from lecture hall to purveyor of cinematic magic twice a week on its own. A long legacy of art and film resides in the building’s plastered walls — and behind the scenes, retired arts journalist and current bookstore owner DJ Palladino maintains this legacy by curating the cinema presented Mondays and Fridays by Magic Lantern Films. I sat down for an interview with Palladino in his used bookstore, crowded in between piles of books spilling off the shelves, where he described the history of Isla Vista Theater and his thoughts on running the Magic Lantern Films program. First owned and operated in 1962 as an arts house, the Isla Vista Theater played primarily avantgarde films. A nudity scandal led the theater’s original owners to sell
Such a wholesome purpose has earned the program support from university administration as well as the student body. I.V. theater in 1966 to the Metropolitan, which named it the Magic Lantern Theater — inspiring the current Magic Lantern Films program. In 1985, the University bought the theater intending to show movies, although it only used the venue as a classroom until 2002. At that time, an inspired group of students started a new movie program to take advantage of the under-utilized Isla Vista Theater: Magic Lantern Films. Unfortunately, Palladino explained, the students graduated the following year and trained nobody to replace them. As a local film buff and arts enthusiast interested in contributing to the community, Palladino accepted the opportunity to run the program. He said no student has shown interest in taking a lead on the program throughout his fifteen years as its
director. Palladino’s selection process for Magic Lantern movies, at least, is not overly complex. It mostly involves him watching a list of popular films that come out any quarter and choosing from those for the following quarter. “I just pick movies that I think young people will come to,” Palladino said. Nonetheless, Palladino also incorporates student input into his decision-making process. Every year, he hires a student assistant who helps with administrative work and offers advice for the movie choices. Palladino also teaches a class on movie theater operations with UCSB; students taking the class select a movie every quarter that plays in the theater. Acquiring the movies Magic Lantern features involves working
with the two largest movie distributors, Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. and The Criterion Collection, Inc. Palladino said smaller studios occasionally will contact him directly, but students today generally prefer to attend major motion pictures. After he has gotten films, Palladino still has to compete — albeit amicably — with A.S. Program Board’s Tuesday film screenings, which are free for students. Palladino described meeting with Program Board quarterly to hash out which films each gets to play so as to prevent overlap. Fundamentally, Palladino said, “We’re both in the business of giving people of Isla Vista something to do besides drinking,” referring to Magic Lantern and Program Board. Such a wholesome purpose has earned the program support
from university administration as well as the student body. Despite unexpectedly high costs initially and negative profitability, the university continued to fund Magic Lantern Films, which has charged four-dollar ticket prices since the program began in 2002. An approximately $85,000 lock-in fee ($88,035.00 for the 2018-2019 school year) from Associated Students to Isla Vista Arts, an organization that contributes to Magic Lantern Films among a variety of other organizations, ensures that Magic Lantern will be securely funded into the future, meaning ticket prices won’t rise any time soon. And so, Magic Lantern will continue to cheaply provide “something you can do besides, you know, fall off a cliff,” as Palladino eloquently said. Quoting a potential slogan coined by his son, he joked, “’Magic Lantern: You can always drink afterwards.’” Follow Magic Lantern Films on Facebook or read University emails for updates on Magic Lantern Films’ latest events.latest events.
9 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
AD&A Museum Hosts Stunning Opening Reception JESSICA GANG Opinions Editor
On Friday, Oct. 5, the Art, Design & Architecture Museum at UCSB hosted an opening reception celebrating their new Fall 2018 exhibits. The event, held onsite, featured the debuts of three new exhibits: All Under Heaven: Landscapes of China by Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney, Prints! The Joan and Stuart Levin Collection, and Hand Made: The Art of the Hand. Fresh off of a successful 2017-2018 year, the museum pulled off a splendid reception that showcased fresh, innovative, and stunning works of art. The Art, Design, and Architecture Museum begins each new quarter with a clean slate of new exhibits, which all run from September to December. The museum also houses two year-long exhibits: Selections from the Permanent Collection, which “brings together a range of objects from different periods and cultures from the Museum’s holdings,” and UCSB Campus Architecture: Design and Social Change, which “presents a chronological view of the planning and design of the UCSB campus,” according to UCSB’s AD&A Museum website. Despite the fact that both year-long collections occupy a significant part of the museum itself, the undeniable stars of the show at the reception were its three new exhibits. All Under Heaven is a showcase of collaborative work by modern Chinese brush painter Arnold Chang and 20th-century American photographer Michael Cherney. The two disparate artists share a common love for Chinese art and derive inspiration from the awe-inspiring beauty of the
Image Courtesy of The Bottom Line Stock Chinese landscape. Hand Made: The Art of the Hand, is a collection of phalange-related pieces from the museum’s personal collection that aims to answer the question: “What is it about the human hand that retains such fascination?” The exhibit displays a number of different representations of hands — from the startlingly life-like all the way to the bemusingly abstract. Finally, Prints! is a collection of curated prints from the Joan and Stuart Levin Collection. The Levins are well-known Los Angeles-based art collectors who moved to New York City in 1962, and much of the dynamism of the art they collected stems from the overwhelming feeling of living in New York throughout the ‘60s. The reception held last Friday primarily served as an in-
troduction to the three new exhibits housed in the museum. Rather than having a formal structure with a schedule or designated speaker, the oneand-a-half-hour event was an opportunity for members of the public to mingle with everyone from exhibit curators and museum employees to art aficionados and museum patrons. Even casual passers-by (perhaps lured in by the sprawling snack table) were able to take advantage of the museum’s free admission policy, wandering in and immediately having the chance to network with a community of art lovers. The largest collection currently on display at the AD&A is without a doubt the Prints! collection, which occupies the entirety of the largest gallery in the museum. Framed prints wrap around the four walls of
the showroom and take up two columns placed in the middle of the gallery space. Prints! contains the work of famed abstract expressionist artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns. The exhibit was curated by Sarah Bane, a current PhD candidate in Art History, who worked closely with the Levins to ensure that the prints chosen for display focused on art that transformed the contemporary landscape. However, my personal favorite of all the exhibits was All Under Heaven, not only because I identified with the work on a deeply personal level, but also because it was the only exhibit that featured two artists working in tandem. Although Chang and Cherney operate using two completely different forms of media, they are bonded by a shared appreciation of
Chinese art and culture that shines through every landscape they create, both separately and together. Regardless of personal favorites, it’s clear that the reception and the exhibits were met with enormous success. The reception celebrates the dedication and achievement of every person involved in the creation and implementation of the exhibits, from artists and curators to museum employees and interns. For more information about the Art, Design, and Architecture Museum at UCSB, visit their website at http://www. museum.ucsb.edu/. Prints!, All Under Heaven, and Hand Made will all be on display at the museum from September 29th to December 9th. Layout Design by Chrissy Cho
TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
10 | OPINIONS
The party never ends THOMAS PALPALLATOC
On Sept. 10, U.S. News’ education section revealed its ranking for “2019’s Top Public Colleges and Universities,” on which UCSB placed fifth, only coming behind national and international juggernauts UCLA and UC Berkeley. This is only a small step up from the university’s previous position of eighth on last year’s list. However, this did not dampen excitement for both students and administration. The university displayed this achievement on the school Facebook page, exclaiming, “Movin’ on up, again! UC Santa Barbara has climbed into the top 5 on U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 listing of top public national universities!” It is clear from this and other totings of the university’s laurels that UCSB wants to paint itself in a new light in an attempt to escape its reputation as a party school that has followed it throughout most of its existence. UCSB’s reputation as a party school has undergone a steady
decline in past years. From the death of the infamous I.V. Halloween to the university’s heightened academic standards to its expanding and plentiful opportunities for undergraduate research, there is no doubt that the school is seen in a different light than it was a decade ago. However, any student who attends UCSB can see that partying is far from absent in the school’s culture. On the first Friday of the quarter, the streets of Isla Vista were filled with students who blared music loudly throughout the night. From the ever present frat parties to the beer cans found in bushes the next day, even if UCSB is more than a simple party school now, the party has still not stopped in Isla Vista. In fact, UCSB still placed 7th on the Princeton Review’s national party school ranking this year, retaking the top 10 spot it had lost the year prior. This mixed reputation has always served as both a repellant and an attractor for prospective UCSB students. While some students dislike the notoriety of
the party school image and think that the university’s academic prestige is lessened because of it, others are able to see past this and realize that, in reality, UCSB has quite a lot to offer to its students. This fact, however, is lost on a lot of people. I know that when I informed my relatives that I would be attending UCSB, many unenthusiastically responded with, “That’s….great.” They didn’t seem to realize how much of a struggle it was to even be admitted to the school; a struggle any freshman this year could explain, as 2018 was the school’s most selective admission in school history, in which the the average GPA among incoming freshmen reaching 4.28 according to Andrea Estrada of “The Current.” With all the changes UCSB is undergoing, it is clear that the character of the school is bound to change as well. However, the worst thing that university administration could do at this point would be to attempt to cover up the party culture that is present at UCSB. Doing so
Illustation by Natalie Dye | Layout Editor
would be nothing but lying to prospective students. It’s clear that UCSB’s party culture isn’t ending anytime soon. But what’s so great about the students of this university is that there’s more to them then their Friday nights. Students are back to studying by Saturday, even. Anyone who’s walked through the dorms at night has passed by countless groups of students grinding out homework
for the next day. Just because Gauchos party hard doesn’t mean they can’t work hard as well, and it would be foolish to ignore such a large part of student life. Both parts of UCSB are simply opposite sides of a coin, and without either, UCSB wouldn’t be the great school it is today.
Looking Onward To A new year ANDREW MELESE Staff Writer As I enter my fourth year at UCSB, I’ve realized that in order to make the best of my time at university, it’s imperative that I learn as diverse a set of knowledge as I possibly can. This, as well as forging meaningful, deep, and sincere relationships of all kinds, are the most important goals that I will aspire towards as I look forward to the upcoming academic year. This point of view finds me from experience: Learning as much as possible about the world and its inhabitants always makes me feel good. I have always found that in attempting to better understand the world, it becomes less intimidating, and more sympathetic. When it comes to my studies, I have always been fascinated by my courses, and filled with the desire to know what motivated each of my professors to become experts in their field.
For all the reasons above, although I am a history major, I study macroeconomics, personal investment, international relations, pop culture, environmental science and evolutionary biology in my free time. It never leaves me unsatisfied — intellectually. If by the end of the year I can understand ideas like the effects that evolution has had on societies since the industrial revolution, or how society and markets have evolved during the same period of time, I will be satisfied come June. Socially, finding meaningful relationships with people of good character — both romantic and platonic — seems to offer the most happiness I’ve known from the standpoint of a human who needs company from other human beings. And in seeking meaningful relationships: those with a deep, sincere intellectual or emotional connection, I have found myself always more happy than when seeking more transactional relationships in the past. In this case, “transactional” meaning a relationship that one has simply for personal gain.
With the new year I am looking forward to learning meaningful things, and making meaningful relationships. And so I’ll look for ways to make purposeful work, and sincere relationships, a reality. Whether it be through playing intramural sports, chatting people up at cafes, reading voraciously in the library, or attending the Adventure or Snow Clubs’ activities, I will aim to find avenues to meaningful experiences. If I don’t do this, I’ll regret not doing so for years to come. Different people need different things, and the same people’s needs can change with time. All I can say is that I’m heading for the mountains or the beach with friendly people whenever I can find an excuse to venture off. I’ll engage in every philosophical discussion I can. Hopefully, I can learn from my professors what drove them, and gave them passion for their careers. In free and empty moments, I’ll be tied up with a book on evolution or investment strategies whenever history-related readings are done.
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TBL| Oct. 10, 2018
ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES Photo by Vivianna Shields| Layout Editor
CHARLES STOCK Over the course of the past year, the #MeToo movement has made global headlines and has led to the fall of a number of notable figures accused of sexual misconduct. The Me Too movement was coined in 2006 with the aim of empowering survivors of sexual violence; particularly young women of color from low income backgrounds. It has since grown into an international movement that includes people from all walks of life. Since its origin, the Me Too movement has brought our attention to the all too prominent presence of sexual misconduct in America and gives a voice to the millions of victims across the continent and the world. The goal of the movement is to destigmatize what it means to be a survivor and to encourage people to discuss the reality that sexual misconduct is near omnipresent in our society today. Only by bringing the topic to the forefront of conversations will significant societal change occur. According to the MeToo movement website, “17,700,000
women have reported a sexual assault since 1998,” which is approximately 242 individuals on a daily basis in the United States alone. This number is merely skimming the surface of the multitude of instances of sexual misconduct. When accounting for the women who do not feel safe enough to come forward and speak, this number is much higher. The Me Too movement provides a platform for people to come forward and support each other in a world which otherwise has little means of doing so. #MeToo amplifies the voice of victims and, in some instances, exposes guilty parties. Laws condemning sexual harassment have only done so much. It is time for action from a society as a whole. Now, more than ever, men and women must not sit idly by. The magnitude at which we display our discontent with the consequences of those guilty of sexual violence must increase. The fact that accused parties include, but are not limited to: actors, producers, athletes, Supreme Court Justices, and even the President must motivate us to bolster the
#MeToo movement in aims of one day making it obsolete. Although the news naturally focuses on celebrities and other well-known individuals, it is crucial to be aware that the grand majority of sexual misconduct occurs in our everyday lives. In Isla Vista alone, there have been two known reported incidents between September 25 and October 3 this year— the first of which was UCSB campus affiliated. According to campus policy, “UCSB does not tolerate sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence or stalking.” Due in part by the ominous presence of sexual misconduct in Isla Vista, UCSB offers services explicitly for survivors such as CARE (Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education) and CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services). However, it is our duty as students, citizens, and friends to share any knowledge we may have in order to prevent, stop, and/or bring to light any and all injustice. No one should suffer for another’s crimes. If something has happened to you it does not mean it hap-
pened because of you. Here are some valuable safety tips and resources provided by the UCPD:
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If you feel you are being followed, try to get the attention of people nearby; run/walk to a well-lit and or more populated area, and call 911 to ask for help. If you are going out alone, make sure that someone knows where you are going, who you will be with, and when you expect to return. If you start to feel concerns about a person or a situation, trust your instincts and try to remove yourself as quickly as possible from the potential threat. If you think someone is at risk of assault or abuse, you should consider it an emergency and act to support that person. You can call the police or ask for help from other people, intervene directly if safe, or
create a distraction to help remove the potential victim from the situation.
Resources The UCSB CARE office provides confidential support and advocacy to students who have experienced sexual assault, relationship abuse, and stalking. Call (805) 893-4613 any time (24/7) for confidential help. CARE website: wgse.sa.ucsb.edu/ care. Information about UCSB’s policies and support resources for sexual violence can be found at: sexualviolence.ucsb.edu. The UCSB Police Department’s CSO Safety Escort Program is a free service provided to members of the UCSB community as a safe alternative to walking alone at night. Call (805) 893-2000 to request a CSO escort.
Layout by Vivianna Shields | Layout Editor
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TBL | Oct. 10, 2018
Women’s Volleyball
On Friday, Oct. 5, women’s volleyball took on the University of Hawaii at home. After losing the second and third set, the Gauchos came back with revamped energy to tie the match 2-2. In the end, the Gauchos fell short of a victory in the fifth set, resulting in an overall record of 12-7. Photo By Juan Gonzalez and Jeilo Gauna
The Gauchos Locos erupt with energy as UCSB pulls closer to the lead.
Sophomore Rowan Ennis spikes the ball.
Photos
Junior, Torre Glasker, gets low to bump an oncoming ball.
UCSB students show off their school spirit between sets.