JUNE 3, 2020
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXVI
SILENCE IS
COMPLICITY PHOTOSTORY
PAGE 12
Photo by FELIX DONG | Incoming Marketing Director GRADUATION UPDATES On May 28, Chancellor Yang announced that the class of 2020’s virtual graduation ceremony would be open for viewing on June 13, but it remains unclear when the university will hold an in-person ceremony.
NEWS | PAGE 2
NON-BLACK FRAGILITY WON’T BUY OUR CIVILITY A Black perspective on why non-Black people don’t have the right to determine how Black actvisits should and should not protest George Floyd’s murder.
OPINIONS | PAGE 8
BottomLineUCSB.com @tbl.ucsb @tblucsb
Updates on Graduation for Class of 2020: Chancellor Yang Announces In-Person Graduation Ceremony LAUREN LUNA | Incoming Campus Beat Reporter
O
n May 28, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) Chancellor Henry Yang announced that the class of 2020’s virtual graduation ceremony would be open for viewing on the UCSB website on Saturday, June 13 at 9 a.m. Though a date for the in-person ceremony has yet to be established, Yang still intends to hold one once conditions become safe enough. Two months ago, Yang sent out an email detailing the need to postpone the in-person commencement ceremony due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, as of May 26, Governor Gavin Newsom’s Health Officer Order states that schools can hold in-person graduations so long as they fall under the following criteria: • All graduations must remain outdoors. • People attending must stay in their own vehicles during the event. • All vehicles remain at least six feet apart. • No diplomas, awards, or accolades will be handed directly to new graduates. While some local high schools, including Dos Pueblos High School and San Marcos High School, have been able to improvise in-person drive-in style graduations, the provisions needed to accommodate such a ceremony at UCSB would be too great to hold an in-person commencement as early as June. Last year, UCSB celebrated 6,867 graduating students, which is approximately 12 times the average number of students in a graduat-
2 | NEWS
ing class at a high school. In Yang’s email, he outlined a brief schedule for the ceremony, which will include the display of personalized graduate slides and remarks from academic leadership and this year’s student speaker. Graduation regalia, caps, and gowns are also still available for purchase at the Campus Store. Though the virtual commencement ceremony does not share the same flourish and anticipation as walking down the stage at graduation, Yang also announced that this year’s celebration would feature a song dedicated to the class of 2020 by UCSB alumnus Jack Johnson. This ceremony will mark Johnson’s first time revisiting the UCSB community since 2015. “Personally congratulating and shaking the hand of each of our graduates is my favorite campus tradition,” said Yang in
his most recent email discussing commencement plans for the class of 2020. “[It’s] one I look forward to sharing with you together in person in the future when we can welcome you, your families, and friends back to campus to share the commencement stage.” In addition to an altered commencement, COVID-19 has uprooted students’ lives in some of the most dramatic and upsetting ways. In addition to forcing students to leave campus, face rent insecurity, and navigate a less-than-promising job market, the pandemic has confined graduating seniors to spend their last few (and by popular opinion, the most memorable) months at UCSB in near isolation. Many student graduates this year have stated they feel as if they’ve been cheated out of several experiences that cannot be easily replicated in
the future. “I didn’t get to do a lot of my last activities as a senior, like participating in Deltopia or Extravaganza one last time, or spending my nights with all of my friends before I leave,” said Jennifer Manning, fourth-year environmental studies major with a minor in education. “It’s made my last few months in Isla Vista sad, but also reflective on the good times I’ve had here.” Some students have innovated creative ways to preserve and honor their experiences this year. Reddit user u/TheNotSecretSpy created the UCSB Scavenger Hunt on the r/UCSantaBarbara subreddit, where they launched their series, Shelter in Place. Shelter in Place features unique homes, murals, dye tables, and landmarks of Isla Vista. In the user’s first post, they explained that the series is intended for stu-
dents “to pretend that [they] are still [there], living a normal life.” A few students on the Facebook page Free & For Sale have even provided quotes for professional senior photos in graduation regalia so that they can get tangible quality memories of UCSB as the spring quarter comes to a close. Some additional opportunities have been provided for seniors, as well. Next year, the Associated Students Program Board will allow the class of 2020 to come to the Extravaganza festival 2021. Many graduates are disappointed that they’ll have to wait to walk at graduation, yet many students appreciate the opportunity to eventually have an in-person ceremony in the future. While the time frame to be anticipated for the inperson graduation is still uncertain, most students are ultimately looking forward to it. “I feel like I would rather wait for the in-person since it seems more legitimate and special,” said fourth-year sociology major Madison Kirkpatrick. “My whole family was looking forward to it, and now we are not sure when it’ll happen. I hope it happens soon. Having a virtual graduation is nice, but who doesn’t love in-person? It would give me some closure on the experience.” Interviews have been lightly edited for clarity. To watch the virtual graduation ceremony on June 13, visit https://www.ucsb. edu/2020-virtual-celebration. Photo Courtesy of UCSB
Is the CARE Grant Enough? UCSB Offers Emergency Grant in Response to COVID-19 CARMIYA BASKIN | Staff Writer
T
he Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS) sent out emergency relief money earlier this month in the form of the CARES Grant to qualifying students in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This relief money helps aid-eligible students to pay for educational expenses related to the disruption of campus operations such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. While many students benefited from these grants, UCSB still has not adjusted its tuition costs for the remote quarter. Saúl Quiroz, the Director of OFAS, told The Bottom Line (TBL) that OFAS understands the far-reaching impact that the pandemic has had on students. He mentioned that OFAS consulted with various campus and systemwide stakeholders such as the University of California Student Association (UCSA), the Basic Needs leadership, and the
Graduate Division in determining award amounts for students. Particular attention was given when determining the award amounts for those in vulnerable populations like students affected by Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA), former foster youth, student parents, and homeless youth. In an interview with TBL, Tamari Dzotsenidze, a fourthyear political science major, said that “every little bit helps. I know my professors are working really hard to do a good job online, and it’s not always that simple to adjust tuition.” Lea Toubian, a third-year political science and environmental studies double major, echoed Dzotsenidze’s statement saying, “I understand there are limitations and that there are still costs the campus has to pay regardless of who is physically there.” However, both agreed that more could be done to help alleviate the financial stress of the
TBL 2020-2021 STAFF
current — and future — quarters. Toubian admitted, “the costs of attending a prestigious fouryear university are a burden for many students but it’s a sacrifice many take because it’s worth it. If we wanted to attend online school, there are tons of cheaper options out there.” Dzotsenidze also mentioned that charging fees for campus facilities that are not in use, such as the library or printing labs is inappropriate. “While in the past I may have checked out a book from the library, now it is a requirement to either buy the book or just gamble on not reading it and sacrifice that portion of your grade. Printing things is also similarly extremely difficult when you have no access to equipment to do so.” Award amounts, which were deposited into students’ billing accounts, ranging from $650 to $1,700. Toubian said, “Considering the significant drop in the quality of education and the lack
of access to facilities, I don’t think that the CARES grant sufficiently made up for [the full cost of tuition]. It was better than nothing and definitely a nice surprise, but I know they could have done better.” Dzotsenidze agreed, noting the biggest issue that UCSB and local officials must address is the housing crisis in Isla Vista. Due to the high rents and run-down conditions of numerous apartments, many students choose to live with upwards of ten people, making self-quarantine difficult. She said, “I do not think that any school or government official can say they are concerned about students’ wellbeing while ignoring the high burden of housing in Isla Vista.” When asked about future quarters — should the university remain physically closed — Quiroz explained that “unless additional funding is included in a subsequent stimulus bill, [the CARES Grant] should be consid-
ered one-time funding. However, we will continue to work with advocacy groups, government relations colleagues and financial aid associations to highlight the critical need for continued financial support for our students.” For those who felt they need additional financial support, OFAS allowed parents and students to submit an online appeal if their income had changed as a result of COVID-19. Quiroz encouraged students to submit an appeal if they have been impacted, as it will be used to determine aid eligibility for the upcoming academic year. Please note, OFAS is no longer accepting online appeals for financial support. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Incoming Creative and 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
Editor-in-Chief | Arianna McDonald
A & E Editor | Sofia Lyon
I.V. Beat Reporter | Alex Wishakowski
Copy Editors | Thao-Vy Duong, Natalia
Managing Editor | Annie Huang
Science & Tech Editor | Xander Apicella
National Beat Reporter | Zoey Jia
Hernandez
Executive Content Editor | Raymond
Opinions Editor | Linda Chong
Layout Editor | Esther Liu
Creative Director | Alyssa Long
Matthews
Photo Editor | Irene Chen
Pages 1, 2, 3
Marketing Director | Felix Dong
Senior Layout Editor | Melody Li
Art Director | Alyssa Long
Layout Editor | Brian Nakajima
Social Media Coordinator | Echo Dieu
Senior Copy Editor | Linda Chong
Video Editors | Seth Saunooke, Nidhi
Pages 11, 12, 13, 14
Web Editor | Rick Zhang
News Editors | Edward Colmaneres,
Khanolkar
Outgoing Layout Editor | Christine Ho Comic Artist | Jake Ortega
Jennifer Sor
Campus Beat Reporter | Lauren Luna
Pages 8, 9, 10
Features Editor | Raymond Matthews
A.S. Beat Reporter | Ladann Kiassat
Advisor | Leah Bartos
NEWS | 3
HOU
4 | FEATURES
S ELESSNESS
IN ANISQ'OYO PARK The Real Natives in Isla Vista NOE PADILLA | Outgoing News Editor
"HE EXPLAINED THAT HOMELESSNESS IS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT HOUSELESSNESS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE."" PEOPLE.
A
s the sun begins to set on Anisq’Oyo Park, there sits a man playing his guitar. A jolly old man singing his songs, telling stories of his youth, and sharing cigarettes with his buddies. His name is Bruce, and at 65-years old, he is houseless. He’s been a resident of Isla Vista (I.V.) since 1991. Bruce is only one of the many people who live out in Anisq’Oyo Park. Within the park, there is a small community amongst them all. Half seem to be older folks who have been living in I.V. for decades, while the other group is younger. The idea of homelessness is well known amongst people, and that idea is often layered behind dehumanizing numbers and policy. But when it comes to the idea of houselessness, that’s an issue that doesn’t normally find its way to print. A younger resident of Anisq’Oyo Park who goes by J.R. illustrated it by the use of his language; “I’m not homeless, this is my home [I.V.]. What I actually am is houseless.” He explained that homelessness is about the problem, but houselessness is about the people. J.R. is a 37-year-old man who has lived in Isla Vista for most of his life, but only in the past four years has he become homeless.
He moved to I.V. when he was 16 to live with his dad. Although he wouldn’t go much into his past, J.R. did open up how he ended up in the streets. “Prior to living out here, I was living with my dad. I spent a lot of my time playing games and reading books. I did that till I was 33, my dad wasn’t happy about that,” said J.R. Although J.R. wouldn’t talk much about himself, he did have things to say about his community. He mentioned how two years ago there was a law put in place that allowed houseless people to sleep in the park. Prior to that law, he said it was common for cops to push them out of the parks and at times use excessive force against them. The worse they have to deal with is cops taking down their tents. “We do our best to follow that rule,” said J.R. J.R. also spoke about the ever-changing population of the community, “just this year we saw about 20 more people join us.” When asked if the city has tried helping them, J.R. looked puzzled for a moment. He scanned the park counting its other residences and murmured to me, “yeah, I guess they do.” He mentioned how once in a while, “the lady” comes to talk to the community and tries to help them by offering them spots in shelters, but he was very short on
the topic. Instead, he focused on the FOOD NOT BOMBS – Isla Vista organization. FOOD NOT BOMBS is a volunteer group that has actively fed the houseless community over the years. Prior to the pandemic, they ran a kitchen out of the Merton Co-op to service the I.V. community. Now in order to serve the community while practicing social distancing, they bring food and supplies out to the houseless five times a week. For all the good that J.R. spoke about, the community is currently mourning over the death of a resident named Barbara. “She died on Christmas eve,” said Bruce. “Barbara has been out here for 45 years.” Although J.R. and Bruce wouldn’t elaborate much into who she was they equally grieved her death. They understandably didn’t want to speak in-depth about the members of their community who’d recently passed away; instead, they listed off names of those who’d passed, like Tony and Cohan. Although to most people these will just be names, to them they were family. Photos by Graeme Jackson | Outgoing Photo Editor
FEATURES | 5
Movie Screening At Home: The Death of Theater and the Birth of Digital Spectacle ETHAN YU | Staff Writer
A
s the COVID-19 pandemic forces us to stay indoors for long durations of time, the constant stream of infotainment in our daily lives has amplified. Through technology and the Internet, you can easily consume bite-sized clips of Trump or your favorite Youtuber online, tweet your thoughts to the world, then share TikToks with your friends with the press of a button. And now … you can watch “Trolls World Tour” or “SCOOB!” instantly on your smartphone or laptop through a number of streaming services instead of having to wait for it to come out in theaters and buy a ticket. For a while now, the relationship between the movie producer and the theater distributor has been slowly deteriorating. In the 1930s to the 1950s, movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Casablanca” were annually broadcasted on one of the three TV channels available, making the theater mainly the only place to watch new and old movies. Since then, the introduction of the video cassette recorders (VCR), BlockBuster rental stores, the Netflix website, and more have brought the movie-theater experience closer and closer to home as the years go by. But one thing that has allowed the antiquated economic model of the theater – with its overpriced tickets and ridiculous prices on popcorn and snacks – to exist in this modern age was its monopoly on making movie releases into financial and cultural events. Not only do most theater chains like AMC Entertainment
and Regal Cinemas usually have a contract deal with production companies to have exclusive access to premiere films before they are available on DVD or online, but theaters also utilize hype culture and fandom culture to get large crowds waiting in line for hours on opening day of the latest summer blockbuster. Through the culture industry’s churning movie releases like “Star Wars” or “Joker” into pseudo-Kairotic moments of pop-cultural significance in the lives of the daily’s masses and the die-hard fans, I wonder whether we are caught by the effects of the current pandemic to realize that the movie industry was already dying a slow death before everything happened so quickly. How will theaters survive during, or even after the pandemic? Studies show that even after the pandemic is “over” (if it ever does), most people will be reluctant to enter a theater and watch a movie out of fear and worry. With the few theaters across the nation opening up, they are only able to hold roughly a quarter of their initial capacity to prevent the spread of infection. With digital video on demand also proving to be somewhat successful for production companies – with 80 percent cuts to movie studios from streaming sites compared to the average 50 percent commission from brick-andmortar theaters – we are forced to ask a more serious question: what is the role of the cinema in the age
6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
of digital reproduction? In the 1930s, cultural theorist Walter Benjamin lamented that an actor’s loss of aura was due to the growing popularity of the movie theater since he or she was no longer in front of the audience. The actor could no longer physically feel the emotional response of the audience members and vice versa; instead, the actor became another prop to the gaze of the camera and the audience slaves to the vision of the camera operator or director. While Benjamin didn’t believe at the time the cinema could hold something of an aura itself, it seems that today we are even further removed from the work of art despite how close it is to us on our electronic devices. No longer within the sacred space where the lights dim and the “shower bath,” as Wittgenstein called it, of the film projector wash away the banality of life, we are condemned to binge “Tiger King” in the comforts of our homes. Just as churches are closed and we are limited to the kinds of religious services we can attend or perform due to social distancing, the closing of the theater has shut off a kind of ritual zone: a space of liminality where one suspends their belief and attachments to the outside world and blisses out into the story, allowing the movie to work its magic. To continue with Benjamin’s line of thought, the work of art in the age of digital streaming has only further delocalized the presence of film and TV both spatially and temporally. No longer does the whole family or group of friends need to plan out a time and day in the
week to go to the mall or plaza early to find parking and get the best seats. Now, I can easily watch “The Irishman” in my sweatpants on my couch and pause or play the movie whenever I want to. Although no one has cried out for the old days of "appointment TV" lately, it could be argued as a necessary death for the rise of the “Golden Age of TV.” This itself has also experienced a death of its own by today’s “streaming wars.” I am not so sure whether the death of “appointment film” will go out in a whimper or in a bang. Surprisingly, after the 1918 Influenza pandemic, many theaters opened with great success. Historically, this can be attributed to the development of the movie palace in the 1920s and the cultural tunnel-vision of WWI. However, it seems unlikely that new innovations in the business model of movie theaters or the never-ending circuits of news, social media, and all the other freaks and carnies out there in the world will be able to attract
us back inside the theater anytime soon. An air of suspicion has haunted the cinema-grounds for a while from the fear of being trapped alive in a burning theater, to being gunned down in the dark by another white-male loner type, now it is the fear of being infectiously suffocated by the very air you breathe. The infernal, mental, viral, and other epidemiologies of modern existence have kindled a fire in the backstage of the theater. A clown may come out and warn us of the looming economic, social, and existential catastrophes around us, but we are too stuck to our “black mirrors,” so plugged into our endless streams of empty content to even know of the fire that surrounds us. We’ve all been watching the digital spectacle for so long now that we don’t even remember what the spectacle used to be. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
REVIEW:
Interactive Episode of
"UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT"
Immerses Viewers CARMIYA BASKIN | Staff Writer
A
fter its final episode aired at the beginning of last year, the hit TV series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” returned for a new, interactive episode entitled “Kimmy vs. the Reverend.” The show’s four seasons follow Kimmy Schmidt as she attempts to adjust to modern life and discover herself after being kidnapped and locked in an underground bunker by a crazy reverend for 15 years. Once she is rescued, she meets her best friend and roommate Titus Andromedon, landlord Lillian Kaushtupper, and temporary employer Jacqueline White. The newest episode, which premiered on Netflix on May 12, revolves around Kimmy’s attempt to rescue another set of women the reverend has captured and locked in a bunker, while simultaneously planning her marriage to Prince Frederick Windsor. It’s worth watching the episode, simply to see “the boy who lived” as an awkward, inexperienced royal prince. Aside from the exciting plot and witty political commentary that the show is known for, this new episode allows the audience to get involved in the story by making decisions for the characters at certain points along the way.
A yellow banner at the bottom of the screen pops up with a selection of options for the viewer to choose from. If the viewer fails to pick a choice within 14 seconds, a choice is automatically selected. If the choice leads to a person’s death, an interlude occurs in which a character comes on screen and advises the audience to make a different decision; the scenes rewind and the narrative continues from there (hint: it’s worth it to press the “Skip Intro” button at the start). For example, viewers can see Titus shoveling in a mouthful of dirt that he believes is pasta salad due to an accidental shrooms trip, and can watch Jacqueline and Kimmy embark on a shaky helicopter ride controlled by Buckley — Jacqueline’s son — who only pretended to have piloting skills to get into the University of Southern California. The episode is also filled with characters breaking the fourth wall, further pulling the audience into the plot and connecting them with the characters. The choices were often silly or pointless but the episode was truly enjoyable to watch and participate in. This is mainly due to the excitement of reuniting with the characters and storyline more than a year after the show’s official
end, as well as being able to experience the show in a novel way. It’s easy and fun to rewatch the special multiple times due to all of the potential outcomes as it allows the audience to travel through as many different storylines as they like. This episode is a unique way to not only revisit the story and characters, but also to relieve the boredom that many people have been experiencing since entering quarantine. Although this installment was not released as a response to quarantine regulations — the installment has been in the works since last May — the timing could not have worked out better as it is helping people stay occupied during isolation. This digital age also provides a perfect time for releasing a technologically interactive episode like this one on a popular streaming service. Even if a global pandemic that forced people to hibernate in their homes had not existed, this episode would still garner the same popularity and attraction. Whether quarantine continues for one more week or another year, showcasing interactive specials like this one is both fun and engaging, and hopefully, other TV series and movies will follow suit.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7
Non-Black Fragility Won't
BUY OUR CIVILITY RAYMOND MATTHEWS | Incoming Executive Content Editor
“M
y life matters,” is not a statement I should have to make, but since my life is now subject to a violent, public debate that I — and my Black brothers, sisters, and non-binary folk — may very well lose, we have been forced to the debate stage. This is my case for our lives. To make myself clear, even though what happened to George Floyd is frighteningly familiar, it is not normal. It has been normalized, but it should go without saying that public servants publicly executing Black civilians without immediate and extreme legal consequences is nothing short of a crime against humanity. Anyone who states otherwise or defends the officer who murdered George Floyd and the officers who watched and did nothing is advocating for an anti-Black police state. This is not a difference of opinion, it is not “playing devil’s advocate.” It is a direct endorsement of domestic genocide.
8 | OPINIONS
The entitlement with which non-black people have told Black people how best to protest our murder, mourn for our community, and express ourselves in more “appropriate,” palatable ways so as not to upset them or challenge their fragile sense of normalcy is vile. The normalcy that you may want to return to as a non-Black person is exactly the set of oppressive, violent, criminally negligent conditions that Black people are actively trying to escape. Empty, de-contextualized, abstract platitudes like “violence isn’t the answer,” are coded language that blames — primarily Black — protestors for violence rather than blaming a fully militarized police force that has repeatedly taken unprovoked, extremely violent measures against crowds of — primarily Black — protestors who were demonstrating peacefully. The reductive, “good vs. bad/
violent vs. peaceful” protestor dialogue is a disingenuous distraction from the real issue at hand: militarized, murderous police officers. Deriding protestors instead of holding police accountable is a deflection that blames victims and invalidates a social movement while shielding the police from accountability I’ll also point out that the phrase “violence isn’t the answer,” is historically inaccurate. In the most glamorized protest in U.S. history — the Boston Tea Party — protestors forcibly seized and destroyed capital in order to demand political change (a.k.a. looting) and as we all know, it was very effective. Let’s also not forget that America was founded by violently stealing Black resources and Black people. If you are okay with looting in the name of sales taxes and colonial greed — but not mass murder — your beliefs are not morally righteous, they are anti-Black. Peace is ideal; we do not enjoy putting our lives at risk, which is why we as Black people have
made every effort to be peaceful. We protested with our art; you told us to stop politicizing your entertainment. We said, “Stop killing us.” You asked, “What about Blackon-Black crime?” We took a knee; you called us “un-American.” We said, “Black lives matter.” You said “All lives matter.” There is no protest — peaceful or otherwise — that anti-Black people will accept, so forgive me for not listening to anti-Black, non-Black people about how best to package my activism. I’d also like to say that my activism does not begin and end with George Floyd, and neither should yours. I also protest for Breonna Taylor, an innocent Black woman who was murdered by two police officers in cold blood on March 13 by three police officers who broke into her apartment while searching for two suspects who happened to live in the same building. The three murderers have been placed on “administrative reassignment,”
and have yet to face charges. I protest for Tony McDade, a Black transgender-man who was gunned down last Wednesday by a police officer who was yet to be arrested and instead has been put on “administrative leave.” These two murders have gone severely underreported because Black cis women, Black transgender men, Black transgender women, and Black gender non-conforming people are consistently devalued within the Black Lives Matter movement in order to elevate Black men — leaving all other Black people underrepresented. If your activism elevates Black cis men to the exclusion of all others, it is not pro-Black. Black transgender lives matter. Black women’s lives matter. Black queer lives matter. We matter. I matter. Sorry if that inconveniences you. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Incoming Art and Creative Director
Holding A.S. Senate Accountable
UCSB’s Campus Community Calls For Re-Election LINDA CHONG | Incoming Opinions and Senior Copy Editor
T
here has been a recent uproar from students demanding to revote for a new Associated Students (AS) president. Recently-elected president, Daevionne Beasley, has been accused of sexual assault and Izzy Mitchell, a student activist and advocator for Gauchos4Transparency, has raised these concerns in the campus community. Mitchell created a petition in hopes to remove Beasley from his current position and hold a new election. In response to this accusation, Beasley, sworn to the AS Senate, denies these allegations and accepts investigation by the Title XI Office at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). With piling testimonies and accusations of sexual assault, only time and investigation will tell whether Beasley’s denial is true, however the real issue here is the Senate’s response. As of May 17, the petition for re-election collected 600 verified signatures, however the Senate denied its appeal as the signatures were deemed unofficial and invalid. Moving forward, Mitchell then spoke at the Senate meeting on May 20 in which she expressed concerns for the Senate’s bias in protecting “survivors” and other victims of similar cases. She also addressed the long waits between email exchanges with the board members as senators and executives’ responses were extremely delayed or completely absent. Mitchell also asked for clarification as to why former AS President Alison Sir had cut off all social media responses. Sir defended herself saying she had been harassed through her accounts as people accused her with hate mail and messages, to which the situation had worsened to the point where her personal phone number was exposed and used against her. The meeting continued with further discussion on the lack of action from the Senate, however many members opposed this silence, pleading with Mitchell and her petition. Soon after, the
board created a rough statement which was not to be released until approval and further verification, and commenced swearing in the new AS board executives. The most alarming thing about this case is not only the fact that there’s yet another sexual assault case at UCSB that isn’t being thoroughly investigated, but also the lack of responsibility that the Senate demonstrates on behalf of its students. Sure, we’ve heard about sexual assault and harassment throughout the years; it’s terrible, but it’s not surprising. Students know at least one victim, has heard about at least one case, and recalls one incident. We’re used to seeing a certain situation is “being investigated” or needs “further consideration,” and Beasley’s case is not an exception. Considering these situations, I want to bring to question: why are students’ voices being suppressed and ignored? Why is the Senate not adhering to what the people want, if its organization was designed to do exactly that? Why is the Associated Students mission statement “to serve the campus community,” yet 600 signatures are ignored and deemed unverifiable? Both parties aren’t innocent. Although the majority hasn’t, some students demonstrated cyber-bullying and intentional hate. There’s no reason for such harshness, and there’s absolutely no toleration for such threatening actions; Sir’s lockdown of her social media accounts is justifiable. But silence from the entire Senate body? Making decisions without consent on who they affect, and disapproving the community’s voices? That’s what I call injustice. Photo by Graeme Jackson | Outgoing Photo Editor
OPINIONS | 9
Plant Therapy
How Growing Plants Sparks Joy CELINE PUN | Contributing Writer
F
uture generations’ right of imagination and outdoor experience may not be a right anymore especially with greenspace disparities changing with time. Maintaining our urban gardens offers the opportunity for future generations to experience the values we are gifted from plants. Our gardens of purple sage, scallions, and dragon fruit cacti under our stairs remind us to venture outdoors and give sunkissed love to our souls. Chlorophyll and carotenoids calm a sea of cement and city smog. We create Anthropocene art of reciprocal thriving.
1. Plants are good investments.
2. Plants are not spoiled brats.
3. Plants are symbolic of their environment.
4. Plants are teachers.
Our clean air, food, and clothes stem from their generosity. There is so much permaculture potential in our windowsill and balcony gardens. Our bellies satisfied and stress melted, we know where our ingredients come from, no unwanted additives. Richer in flavor than store-bought, we know our efforts and love coaxed our plants to thrive. Plump fruits and flowers are eye candy as well. Green is the new black. A flex on the ‘gram to friends and family for our supreme adulting/plant-parenting skills. We are sharing that we have the capacity to care and love others. Long afternoons basking in presences that are not our own. Afterall, social distancing does not affect plants.
Sessile and soft-spoken, plants are solely concerned with surviving to reproduce. Pure of materialistic yearns and immoral intentions, they are like tantrum-less children. Their demands for nurture are more explicit than any passive-aggressive partner, but only if we listen well to understand their needs: water every other day, partial sunlight, monthly fragrant compost.
Plants are fickle beasts — their sensitivity to the environment we share with them are amplified. They only grow if the conditions are favorable. In other words, if something is wrong, plants will whisper their woes to us. Perhaps, pH or nitrate levels are too low or too high, or the soil is polluted, radioactive, or unhealthy. Are the weather conditions not agreeable? Perhaps, we plant parents may become a vector of problems; when we are too stressed or sick to care for our plants, the health of our plants will reciprocate our wilting souls like in "The Good Place" where Tahani gifts a plant to Eleanor that is symbolic of their friendship.
The lessons range from a few minutes to numerous years. We gather in our gardens, pens and ears ready. Come with no expectations. Pay attention. Play around. We learn how hard water creates scale in water rooting if we leave these infants alone in the other room too long. We learn the scars on their leaves are ghosts of mouthfuls from those fat caterpillars. They teach us applicable skills — think about it. Those golden interview phrases grow as vines in our mind when we develop a symbiotic relationship with our plants: detail-orientated, passionate, responsible. For example, learning how to take care for them reminds us to take care of ourselves and let us know we are capable of taking care of others.
10 | OPINIONS
Let’s show gratitude for existing on this planet, even if this is through helping a desk succulent thrive. Humans are selfish creatures — so let’s also use that: let’s give back to the flora world because we want to continue doing what we love to do and they help us do that. Besides, when aliens visit our planet, reeking landfills, plastic islands, and sepia skies will be extremely embarrassing — like why did we not appreciate our home to the point of destruction? Illustration by Grace Park | Staff Illustrator
The Tip of the Iceberg
Illustration by ALYSSA LONG | Incoming Art and Creative Director
A NON-COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BLACK LIVES LOST TO POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE JULY 2014. REST IN POWER.
Comic of the Week
Comic by JAKE ORTEGA | Comic Artist
ILLUSTRATION | 11
BLACK LIVES MATTER
O
n Saturday, UCSB students and Isla Vista residents gathered at Storke Tower to protest police brutality and the recent death of George Floyd. After community members voiced their thoughts and feelings, the protesters began their march across campus, the streets of Isla Vista, and windy paths towards Sands Beach. Many of these individuals held up signs and chanted to voice their frustrations and concerns to the surrounding community. FELIX DONG | Incoming Marketing Director
12 | PHOTOSTORY
Houseless in Isla Vista GRAEME JACKSON | Outgoing Photo Editor
Isla Vista’s Ansiq’Oyo park hosts many houseless individuals in the Isla Vista community. (Pictured from left to right) Michael, Raffi, and Bruce sit in a circle discussing their personal histories and lives in Isla Vista.
“I’m not homeless, this is my home [I.V.]. What I actually am is houseless.” -J.R.
Park Resident Bruce enjoys sharing cigarettes with his friends both new and old, while reminiscing on his days as a performer for the Isla Vista community.
The Isla Vista Free Box is a resource for members of the community to donate articles of clothing, books, and supplies for residents who may need them. Brian picked up his tye-dye shirt from the Isla Vista Free Box, crediting the resource for providing him and his friends with clean clothes.
PHOTOSTORY | 13
The Bottom adle Illustration by LAUREN LUNA | Incoming Campus Beat Reporter
ILLUSTRATION | 14
