Fall 2019, Issue 2 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

OCTOBER 16, 2019

VOLUME I, ISSUE II

OUR BOY

ROY A&E

PAGE 7

Photo by GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor

SHE SAID: Journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor recounted their exposÃ© of Harvey Weinstein and the subsequent rise of the #MeToo movement. FEATURES | PAGE 6

U.C. CHALLENGES GOVERNMENT The U.C. system filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Trump administration's decision to rescind the DACA program in 2017. NEWS | PAGE 2

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U.C. SYSTEM STANDS

AGAINST GOVERNMENT JADE MARTINEZ-POGUE | National Beat Reporter

n Sept. 27, 2019, the U.C. Board of Regents filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the DACA program in 2017. The recent filing of the brief has renewed the debate surrounding DACA, especially amongst students and faculty. In the brief, the University of California System argues that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it announced it would rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. It argues that the decision was unconstitutional, unjust, and "arbitrary and capricious." The case is set to be argued in the Supreme Court on Nov. 17, but a decision must be made by the end of June 2020. DACA was first introduced by the Obama administration in 2012 and allows any individual who was brought to the United States before the age of 16 to work and study after meeting certain requirements — which includes living in the United States since 2007 or before, being under the age of 31, and not having been convicted of a felony offense.

2 | NEWS

DACA currently allows for 700,000 students across the nation to build their careers through various universities — 1,700 of those students attend schools in the U.C. system, according to the 2019 National DACA Study. “The message is clear — DACA has benefited hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who simply want to continue contributing to the country and communities they consider home,” said John A. Perez, Chair of the U.C. Board of Regents, in a press statement last week. While DACA allows students to study in the United States and provides opportunities for those who were not born here, the creation of it has stirred in complicated political elements. Janet Napolitano, the current president of the University of California, initially authorized the DACA program back in 2012 when she was serving as the Secretary of Homeland Security under the Obama administration. “On paper, it’s a good decision. But from my mind, it’s still a little complicated,” said Ralph Armbruster Sandoval in an in-

terview with TBL. Sandoval is the Chicano Studies Department Chair at U.C. Santa Barbara. While the Trump administration has been vocal about their immigration policies, an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute shows that five million people were deported under the Obama administration, while Napolitano was Secretary of Homeland Security. DACA was created in June of 2012, just months before the 2012 Presidential election. “DACA was a concession to the Latino community,” said Armbruster Sandoval. “Had [Obama] not created DACA, the Latino community might not have turned out for him during the election.” Despite a controversial birth of the program, DACA has made a huge impact in the lives of many and is a policy that the UC system is fighting hard to keep. When news of the Trump administration’s decision to terminate DACA broke back in September of 2017, it sent a wave of distress across UCSB’s campus. “It wasn’t surprising. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t horrible and wasn’t terrible, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t pre-

dictable,” said Armbruster Sandoval. Fourth-year English major and Dreamer, Rubalcava, a student who wishes to only go by her last name, remembers going to her lawyer immediately after the news broke to see what this meant for her. “I wouldn’t be able to leave the country for any emergencies and I could no longer study abroad with DACA because if [Trump] were to rescind it while I was out of the country, I wouldn’t be able to come back,” said Rubalcava as tears swelled in her eyes. “It was so upsetting because I see my friends that all go get to study abroad and I won’t ever be able to experience that.” Shortly after President Trump’s announcement, the University of California filed the first lawsuit against the government’s decision, which sent a hopeful and supporting message to students affected by the administration’s decision. “I feel like there’s at least someone on my side. They think that I do belong here and that I shouldn’t be sent back to a place

that I don’t know,” Rubalcava said. “It’s nice to see that support from such a big institution.” While the University of California was the first university system to sue the government, hundreds of corporations have filed amicus briefs, briefs of support that provide additional information as well. An amicus brief filed by the American Historical Association looked at Trump’s rhetoric specifically in attempts to prove that he was racially motivated in his decision to rescind DACA. They look at the radical wording in his statements to try and prove that it is about race and not just legal security issues. The University of California, along with many other associations and corporations, believes in giving those who consider America their home a chance to stay and build their own path. “I didn’t choose to come here, I was brought here. I don’t really know Mexico, all I know is the U.S.,” said Rubalcava. “If I were forced to go back there, I wouldn’t have anything.” Photo Courtesy of UCSB

The A.S. Bike Shop

PLANS TO RELOCATE MADISON KIRKPATRICK | Campus Beat Reporter

or many years, the location of the historic Associated Students (A.S.) Bike Shop at UCSB has been the subject of intense debate, especially with regards to finding the shop a more permanent location. The concept of having a permanent location has been put forth by different iterations of the A.S. Senate consistently over the past few years. At one of the first A.S. Senate meetings to take place during the 2019-2020 school year, the issue of a permanent location for the bike shop was again raised — this time, the cause was championed by newly inaugurated Off-Campus Senator Dagan Addinall. The bike shop was founded in 1974 and is a student-funded non-profit bike space that fixes students’ bikes at a low cost. For students who rely on their bikes for transportation, the bike shop is a place for quick and cheap

fixes, but the shop is currently tucked away in a less-than-optimal location: Trailer #324, hidden at the corner of Lot 29, and stationed beside the UCSB campus pool. Student Bike Shop liaison, A.S. Off-Campus Senator, and third-year hydrologic sciences major Dagan Addinall was excited to be a part of A.S. in general, but specifically drawn to the bike shop because he had many friends who worked at the shop and knew the importance of having a reliable bike, especially since he had experienced bike problems as a UCSB student himself. “I was pleased with the mission statement of the shop,” said Addinall in an interview with The Bottom Line. Addinall revealed that the shop has never had a permanent location. The trailer that the shop is currently situated in was supposed to be there for a temporary

period, and, according to Addinall and the A.S. website, A.S. currently has approximately $2.5 million dollars set aside of its $13 million total budget dedicated to finding a permanent location for the bike shop. There are currently 11 suitable and four preferred locations on campus that the bike shop could potentially be moved to. Addinall noted that a permanent location would be safer for students. Currently, students have to swiftly pull off the bike lane in order to get to the trailer, which could easily lead to an accident as others are rushing to class or simply not paying attention. Addinall also mentioned that the current building is not up to safety standards. In an interview with The Bottom Line, Estefania Franco stated that many students want to apply to work at the shop, but at the shop’s current location, there are a maximum of six people who are

able to work in one shift due to space constraints. Thus, a larger location could offer more employment opportunities to students. Franco also mentioned how a permanent location would benefit the work environment by allowing for small conveniences, like having shipments directly delivered to the shop in order to save time and money. The bike shop has a floor plan and plans to settle in a permanent location by the end of the fiscal year. Franco added that a bigger location will allow the bike shop to give back to the community more than it already has. The process of finding a new location for the bike shop hasn’t been easy, as is the case with any major change that threatens iconic structures. The plan to find a permanent home for the bike shop has faced a number of challenges that in the past have prevented the bike shop from

launching a comprehensive initiative to find a new home. Addinall stressed the importance of voting, especially in campus elections, so that students' voices could be heard against the objections. For students at UCSB, a new permanent location for the bike shop could make accessing its services easier and safer in the upcoming years. Students will be able to access it much easier, employment opportunities would be more plentiful, and the shop may even be able to offer more services to students who need a quick fix. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

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

Art Director | Alyssa Long Layout Editor | Melody Li Pages 10, 11, 12 Layout Editor | Amanda Wang Pages 7, 8, 9 Layout Editor | Christine Ho Pages 5, 6

NEWS | 3

Your Chance to get KYLE DENT | A.S. Beat Reporter

ssociated Students (A.S.) at UCSB is currently accepting applications for the Pearman Fellowship, a program in which new students at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) can get a head start in student government by offering them a chance to become a fully fledged member within an A.S. entity. Currently holding applications, the fellowship offers freshman, transfer, and international students the opportunity to get involved. Fellows will work alongside and be mentored by a designated member of A.S. who will help them “learn about the different roles and functions of A.S.,” according to the program’s application. In previous years, only A.S. executive officers could take on a fellow, but according to Bailee Mattos, the deputy chief of staff

4 | NEWS

for the internal vice president, this is the first year the program is allowing senators (as well as committees) to actually take on a fellow. “Typically, senators have their own projects that they’re working on, and when they take on a fellow they then have someone to bring along to help them ... They also act as a mentor and show the fellow the ins-and-outs of what it's like to be a senator in UCSB’s A.S.,” Mattos said in an interview with The Bottom Line. Senators will take their fellow through the processes of A.S. and the Senate in general, such as keeping up to date on their special projects and BCUs (Boards, Committees and Units), alongside campus groups and organizations like the Food Bank Advisory Committee, Queer Commission, and the A.S. Bike Shop. Deputy Chief Mattos hopes

that the fellowship will help make A.S. more accessible to interested students and jump-start their careers in campus politics. “We want to maintain hard work and drive within A.S., and we believe if fellows are trained and informed at an earlier stage of their college career, then that would be the most impactful approach,” Mattos explained. This push for early and open accessibility to student government also influenced the move to allow transfers and international students to join the fellowship, as opposed to past years where only freshmen were offered spots. “A.S. could be more accessible to interested students, and that is why this year we revamped the Pearman Fellowship

INVOLVED!

PEARMAN FELLOWSHIP,

Program to have a broader outreach … ” This, Mattos hopes, will allow even more interested students to make change on campus and leave them working and growing with A.S. for a long time. The program lasts one quarter, and at the end, students will have the opportunity for a permanent spot in their assigned field, or one more to their liking. Mattos says that around this time, around six or seven of the 22 senators plan on taking a fellow, as well as the five executive offices, and various BCUs.

Applications are open at https:// www.as.ucsb.edu/get-involved/fellowship-application/ until Oct. 18. Photo Courtesy of UCSB

EDWARD COLMENALES | I.V. Beat Reporter

Let's Honor the Indigenous

ct. 14, 2019 marked Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday where Native American culture is formally recognized and celebrated. Indigenous Peoples’ Day, founded in 1992, in Berkeley, California, was established as a direct counter to Columbus Day (also on Oct. 14) with the end goal of showcasing a more historically accurate Columbus representation, while also drawing attention to rich indigenous culture and history. This commemoration is officially celebrated by seven states’ governments, not including California’s, and over a hundred cities. Both the city of Santa Barbara and UCSB fall short of properly honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a national holiday. However, UCSB is situated on at least six Chumash Nation villages despite there being little formal contact between UCSB and the Chumash Nation. The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the American Indian Cultural Resource Center (AICRC) are the only programs at UCSB which consistently rec-

ognize the Chumash Nation as a meaningful regional identity. The Bottom Line spoke with the tribal liaison, Mia Lopez, between UCSB’s American Indian Cultural Resource Center and the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation. Located by the Santa Barbara airport, the Goleta slough state marine conservation sits adjacent to the UCSB campus and historically served a much larger purpose for local natives. At one point this swamp-like water channel was significantly larger and acted as a safe harbor for canoes of various tribes seeking refuge from violent sea storms. While waiting out these storms in the slough village houses, natives traded both physical commodities and far-reaching knowledge. UCSB itself is a successor to this diffusion of knowledge as it is ranked number seven in all public U.S. universities by the U.S. News & World Report. Nonetheless, there is still a popular consensus that the indigenous community is not properly or fully represented in Santa Barbara nor UCSB. This is reflected in some of the experiences that Native American students face

here at the university. Former Associated Students External Vice President of Local Affairs and current member of AICRC Jeike Meijer spoke with The Bottom Line about the experiences of UCSB students with indigenous roots. “As far as we knew and as far as we could find, I was the first native executive member in UCSB history. That meant a lot for my community. That gave visibility, and we were able to highlight and center stories and experiences that weren't highlighted before,” Meijer said. “I think for one, our population is really small. It’s very difficult to find one another. As much as you try, it can just be so difficult to find other native students, and that can feel very isolating … I know that a lot of people are in the boat where they’re disconnected from their culture. And they don’t feel that they’re valid in reclaiming it,” Meijer continued. Meijer also spoke on indigenous individuals’ hesitancy to assert their heritage. “That always breaks my heart when I see, when I hear of people who say, ‘I have indigenous ancestry, but I don’t

feel like I could claim that because I don’t know enough about it.’ It all goes back to representation, who’s voice is being heard.” Meijer belongs to the Arawak people, indigenous to the Caribbean, who are the first natives Columbus ever made contact with. Indigenous Peoples’ Day represents an increase in awareness of issues and difficulties facing indigenous peoples, and it is gradually replacing the fallacies which have for centuries suppressed the voices of past and current Native Americans. Illustration by Esther Liu | Social Media Manager

5 | FEATURES

"She Said":The Exposé That Sparked a Movement

RAYMOND MATTHEWS | Opinions Editor

n Sunday, Oct. 13, UCSB hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor at Campbell Hall, where they discussed their new book “She Said” and recounted their investigative report that resulted in the exposé of Harvey Weinstein and the subsequent rise of the #MeToo movement. Both Twohey and Kantor are veteran investigative reporters for The New York Times, and both cite the Weinstein report as the most difficult, contentious, and revolutionary report that they’ve ever conducted. Twohey and Kantor began

working together in early 2017 after conducting independent research on sexual assault and harassment allegations in the entertainment industry, the growing tech industry in Silicon Valley, and even sexual assault allegations made against President Trump. The night began with Twohey and Kantor describing the challenges they faced during the first stages of their investigative report, as they had the responsibility of turning “Hollywood’s open secret into a public dialogue.” Even after speaking with multiple actresses including Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd, and Gwyneth Paltrow, all of whom

experienced sexual assault or harassment at the hands of Weinstein, Kantor and Twohey knew that relying solely on firsthand testimony would leave room for doubt and blatant denial. In order to corroborate these stories, they took their investigation further and began looking into secret legal settlements that were exchanged between Weinstein’s attorneys and his victims as a means of keeping those victims silent in exchange for financial compensation. In Twohey’s own words, “We decided to look at these settlements not as evidence of compliance on behalf of the victims, but

as evidence of guilt and culpability on behalf of Weinstein.” After doing so, the nature of the investigation changed as Twohey and Kantor noticed that many of the women who received these settlements were not prominent actresses, but women who worked behind the camera for Weinstein’s company, and as such were easily coerced by Weinstein. This somewhat shifted the nature of the report, as Twohey and Knator began looking into The Weinstein Company’s corporate and legal structure, which was, “seemingly designed to enable harassment and assault.” After acquiring testimony from The Weinstein Company’s employees, multiple victims, and compiling memos and legal documents from executives at the company, Twohey and Kantor were finally ready to publish their exposé. Upon releasing the report Kantor and Twohey were met with a lot of praise, but they also pointed out that “the attention was not all positive and high-spirited, it opened up a broader discussion on the nature of sexual assault and harassment and how we should deal with it.” As journalists, it is Twohey and Knator’s responsibility to re-

main somewhat objective on the topics that they cover, so they were unable to share their personal opinions on the social movement that their report started. However, they did leave the audience with some closing thoughts on the impact of their work and the nature of sexual responsibility as we move forward. “We are in a unique position right now; we can change our culture and raise a new generation of children who will be appalled at the sexual violence that their mothers and grandmothers experienced, and hopefully, they will never experience that kind of sexual violence themselves.” Photo courtesy of Pixabay

The night began with Twohey and Kantor describing the challenges they faced during the first stages of their investigative report, as they had the responsibility of turning “Hollywood’s open secret into a public dialogue.” 6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Roy Blair:

Representative of Teen Angst ALLINTA TADESSE | Contributing Writer

o the delight of many of his fans, A.S. Program Board announced that singer, songwriter, and rapper Roy Blair will be performing some of his hit songs in the Hub at UCSB on Oct. 11. Despite his contributions to famous indie boy band BROCKHAMPTON’s album as a songwriter and producer, Blair’s solo work as an artist is rarely acknowledged; thus, this performance served as a rare musical treat for UCSB students and fans of his music. Kevin Abstract, leader of BROCKHAMPTON, helped Blair launch into the music scene by including him as a feature on album "American Boyfriend" before Blair released his own studio album "Cat Heaven" and EP "Graffiti". According to publication The Mars Files, Blair tends to stress the artistic caliber of his music to the point where he placed art and furniture from his childhood at a listening party so his guests could feel the vibes. The line of the concert was quite lengthy since the price of the concert ticket was very affordable ($12 a ticket with a student discount). Most of the people in line were what the internet likes to call "VSCO girls," dressed in mom jeans and colorful tops with hair clips to match. The Hub is a very small venue and allowed for intimate interactions between Blair and the audience, especially for those who were lucky enough to get close to the front barricade. The concert opened up with

some local EDM artists but was kicked up a notch when Blair started warming up his vocals and hyping up the crowd. Despite the majority of Blair’s music having a melancholic vibe, he constantly interacted with the crowd asking them to sing and jump with him and even wave their arms along with him. Interestingly, some of Blair’s songs such as "I DON’T KNOW ABOUT HIM" relied heavily on Auto-Tune and none of the instruments used in the concert were acoustic. He displayed an impressive performance filled with excitement as he played around with notes and showed an eagerness to improve as an artist. An avid listener of Blair, UCSB student Marie Tafese remembers passionately belting out the lyrics word-for-word to her favorite song “Jane” and was featured in YouTuber "enjajaja"(Enya Umanzor) and Blair’s girlfriend’s video. Another lucky fan, Orange County native Eric Nguyen was actually able to give Blair a t-shirt from his clothing brand @familyaffairsla during the meet and greet after the show. Blair mentioned that he didn’t receive the support from his friends and family in regards to his dreams of becoming an artist. As a result, he moved to LA after graduating to pursue his passion of songwriting and producing. Despite all of the odds, Blair is now a fairly successful artist able to perform for even hundreds of people, and his popularity is continuing to increase.

Blair’s music often reflects his discouraged feelings, representing the frustrated youth who often feel barricaded from their true passions by societal expectations. Not only does he represent a voice for confused youth but his music also stands as a testament to his dedication in producing unique sounds and high-quality songs. Actively promoting and uploading his music on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music, Blair represents a glimpse of youthful musical talent for the upcoming generation of artists. He is expected to perform next in London at Electrowerkz on Oct. 22. Author’s recommended songs: “Dennis,” “Jane,” “Perfume,” “Thunder,” “Hazel,” “I DON’T KNOW ABOUT HIM,” and “Happy.” Photos by Graeme Jackson | Photo Editor

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7

SuperM Debut in America

with Sold-Out Mini-Concert XIANGRU CHEN | Contributing Writer

n Oct. 5, SuperM, a brand new K-pop super-group under entertainment company SM Entertainment, dropped their first single “Jopping” and made their debut performance in front of the iconic Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles. Showcasing their talent through a mini-concert for American fans, SuperM took over Hollywood at their first-ever live show and American debut. The debut showcase, streamed live on YouTube, provided a first glimpse of their marvelous album with flashy lights and dreamy stage settings. Attempting to redefine Korean pop culture, SuperM, which dubs itself the "Avengers of K-pop," is an innovative and attractive boy group composed of members from some of SM’s

most popular groups: SHINee’s Taemin, EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai, NCT 127’s Taeyong and Mark, and NCT’s China-based unit WayV’s Ten and Lucas. Before the performance, a "K-Pop Village" opened in front of the iconic Capitol Records Tower for fans who were interested in purchasing merchandise, albums, and food. The village was designed for all ages and no tickets were required for entrance. It helped construct a diverse community where fans around the world gathered in one place to dance and chat while waiting for SuperM’s performance. The show began around 7 p.m. with a sudden blackout and video panels flashing their names. As the spotlight shone on the stage, members made their appearance as a group with designated poses, ready for the perfor-

8 | ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

mance. The energetic vibe within the venue stimulated everyone’s nerves and left them excited for more new music. The dynamic stage with its entire spectacle of high-intensity performance combined with the dancing of the members on the stage left the audience jumping and singing wildly. At the middle of the stage, blending with mellow purple lights, rising video panels with transforming graphics matching the concept of each performance set up a futuristic theme throughout the show. The event lasted around 40 minutes with the group revealing three songs from their new album, SuperM — The first Mini Album: “Jopping,” “I Can’t Stand The Rain,” and “Super Car.” As Mark exclaimed during the show, the show was an "adventurous trip" and the audience was in-

vited to ride on the Super Car to "explore the world of the unknown.” As an experimental group project, SuperM is one of the most controversial and anticipated bands in Korean pop music and faced many angry and skeptical fans when their project was announced. Immediately after Chris Lee — A&R executive and CEO of Culture Technology Group Asia Europe at SM Entertainment — announced SuperM’s debut in August, the hashtag #SuperMDisbandParty was created, pressuring SM and Capitol to cancel the project. While some may blame SM Entertainment for aiming for Western validation, the majority of the trepidation comes from the concern for the original group members. Fans fear that the existence of SuperM might rob the

opportunities from their existing original groups. However, the critics have never hindered or fazed SuperM, which continue to explore their musicality and search for opportunities to promote their music in America. On Nov. 11, SuperM will kick off their first 10-city North American “We Are the Future” tour in Texas at Dickies Arena and come back to L.A. on Feb. 1. Fans can look forward to their future performances in America and for them to release new music during their stay here.

Author’s Recommended Songs: “Jopping,” “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” and “2 Fast” Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

UCSB's Wandering

Mountain Lion TEREN'E CHAMBERS | Contributing Writer

n Tuesday, Oct. 8, a mountain lion was sighted near Orfalea Family Children's Center in the afternoon. This was just the latest in a slew of mountain lion sightings that took place near UCSB over the past few weeks — sightings likely caused by seasonal factors. In a dramatic turn of events, the latest sighting was reported to be bobcat who has lived in the area with no problems for many years. The first alert came on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and was issued to UCSB students, staff, and Santa Barbara residents. It was reported that a mountain lion was spotted near UCSB’s Campus Point peninsula. The notification urged that, until further notice, people should avoid the area, and emails were sent out explaining proper precautions to avoid and survive mountain lion encounters. Police officials searched the area. They notified the California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials and advised people to call 9-1-1 if they saw a fugitive feline. A few days later, another alert notification was issued — the mountain lion was

seen at Orfalea Family Children's Center. The saga continued with an additional two mountain lion sightings, which were reported at the Allan Hancock Lompoc campus. On the evening of Monday, Oct. 7, a mountain lion was spotted for the fourth time near the

UCSB campus on the beach below the cliffs at Campus Point. This was the sighting confirmed to be a bobcat, a much smaller and less dangerous feline. In an interview with The Bottom Line, UCSB Evolutionary Biology professor

Samuel Sweet agreed that the recent sightings most likely involved a bobcat. “There were a couple bobcats on Campus Point … people worried that the two bobcats they saw might be mountain lions,” Sweet said. “A couple of people know what they are doing because they have seen a bobcat.” Sweet is quite familiar with mountain lion activity. He comes across a number of signs of mountain lion

activity in his local fieldwork and he is used to being tracked while he works alone at night. Mountain lions are nocturnal animals. Experts say that mountain lions may be looking for food and water. But Sweet asserted that, “by nature now, they are eating raccoons, possums, rabbits, and rats.” According to an email sent to UCSB staff, faculty, and students, residents should not worry too much about encountering mountain lions. In the case that they do, they are advised to not run away from them. Experts say that it is better to make noise and appear as big as possible. They are, in fact, afraid of humans and even children. Mountain lions have been around the Santa Barbara County for years. They come down from the mountains in Goleta, and this is not an uncommon occurrence. “People don’t really understand that mountain lions are around campus all the time,” said Sweet. So long as expert advice is followed, these animals are fairly harmless. They will likely be on their way soon. Illustration by Drew Buchanan | Contributing Illustrator

SCIENCE AND TECH | 9

UCSB Administration

Allegedly Plans to Hide

Instructor Names on GOLD in Future Quarters KRYSTAL CHEN | Contributing Writer

ccording to a recent post on the subreddit r/UCSantaBarbara, a well-connected faculty member has exposed that the UCSB school board plans to hide professor's names on the Gaucho On-Line Data (GOLD) website when students are registering for classes, preventing them from selecting classes based on professor. The policy is designed to deter students from using websites like RateMyProfessor to help them choose their classes, making some professors more attractive than others. Although this proposal has not yet been enacted, it could allegedly go into effect sometime in the next academic year. The post has stimulated discontent and debate, as students worry that if they can’t choose between professors, there might be less incentive for professors to meet student needs and improve as educators. Many students insist that choosing their professors is a basic right, and many also blame

10 | OPINIONS

the University for its excessive focus on research development as opposed to students’ well-being. Research is one of UCSB’s top priorities, and the belief that education should be centered around research can discourage students and faculty from focusing on teaching and education. An anonymous faculty member in the Mathematics department revealed that “professors can be divided into teaching and researching faculties." "For researching professors, there is no actual punishment for receiving a low grade on the final course review. For the most part, the department will just talk to them, but as long as their research goes well, nothing will really happen.” While research is very important, it is even more important that professors who conduct research still prioritize their students and overall course quality. This issue also presents another administrative problem: unpredictable swells in class enroll-

ment. Students often give each other advice like, “don’t take class with X, wait till Y teaches it in the spring,” which can cause fluctuations in class enrollment of each quarter. For now, whether the policy will be implemented or not remains unknown. However, this proposal reflects a key issue that should be addressed: an effective platform is needed for students to report unsatisfactory teaching quality, and for relevant departments to intervene in these situations. Without cooperative efforts from the University, the ability to choose professors is the last defense that students have against tenured professors who prioritize their research and disregard their evaluations. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

Tap into Tarot for Lessons in Life RAYMOND MATTHEWS | Opinions Editor

quick guide to tarot: when selecting a card, it’s best not to overthink it. Just pick whichever card resonates with you (or whichever one looks prettiest to you). While no single card can answer all of your questions, it should give you an insight into some general themes that may be playing out in your life.

Seven of Pentacles: Six of Wands: The six of wands represents victory, validation, and acknowledgement. You have been experiencing a run of success lately and those around you are beginning to take notice. This external acknowledgement is great and well-deserved, but the six of wands is meant to remind you that you should be proud of yourself for your persistence and achievements. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back. You’ve earned it! This is also a good time to reflect on where you once were and where you are now. Keeping this perspective may keep you humble in the face of this newfound praise and success.

The seven of pentacles represents patience, investment, and sustainability. You have been investing in yourself or your work for a while now, and you’re finally starting to see some results. As you move forward, it’s best to make long-term plans that will maximize your efforts and maximize your results. This isn’t purely about money or grades. Oftentimes the seven of pentacles is a sign that you need to invest more into your passion projects. Whatever you feel most strongly about is exactly what you should be focusing on right now. Overall, this card teaches us to patiently invest in ourselves and our passions to achieve personal fulfillment.

Eight of Pentacles: The eight of pentacles represents craftsmanship, work ethic, and action. Now is the time to build up your skillset and master your chosen craft. This process may be timeconsuming and you may feel that your commitment, patience, and dedication are being tested, but you are up to this challenge. As your skills build up over time, it will be rewarding to reflect on where you once were and celebrate how far you’ve come. Illustrations by Alyssa Long | Art Director

Comic of the Week Comic by Jake Ortega | Comic Artist

OPINIONS | 11

R OY

Blairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance at The Hub only served to strengthen his reputation as an

Photos by GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor

artist that can inject passion and intensity into any song across his discography.

Throughout the

Roy Blair undoubtedly matched the

show, Blair took

crowdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electric energy with his unique

moments to inter-

performing flair and dynamic move-

act with the crowd

ments throughout the night.

both between and during songs. These interactions cultivated a sense of unity in the building, and Blair effortlessly composed a sense of connectedness with the crowd from start to finish.

An energetic DJ duo came out to warm up the crowd spinning tracks varying from indie vaporwave to lively house music.

PHOTO | 12