VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXIII
MAY 13, 2020
NEW TITLE IX REGULATIONS ENACTED DESPITE BACKLASH FROM UC U.S Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recently released new Title IX regulations that narrow definitions of sexual harassment and assault. In response, the UC system says these new regulations may halt our progress against sexual harassment and assault, leaving survivors without the legal support they need.
News | Page 2
PROFESSORS SHOULD PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MIDTERMS DURING COVID-19
JUST THE
One of the most difficult parts of adapting to online instruction as the result of COVID-19 has been conducting online examinations. Currently, online test administration is left largely up to instructors, which has resulted in a wide variety of stressful testing mechanisms that has resulted in additional hardship for students who lack consistent internet access or may be facing COVID19-related adversity.
ESSENTIALS PHOTOSTORY | PAGE 14-15 Photo by GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor BottomLineUCSB.com @tbl.ucsb @tblucsb
Opinions | Page 10
TITLE IX
New Regulations Enacted Despite Backlash from UC ALONDRA SIERRA | Features Editor
I
n the midst of a global pandemic, as colleges and universities rush to decide plans for fall quarter, U.S Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has released new Title IX regulations. The new rules, which outline how colleges and universities must respond to cases of sexual misconduct, were released on Wednesday. It includes a narrower definition of sexual harassment and more rights for the accused than the Obama-era rules alloted. DeVos first released the proposed regulations in November 2018, opening it up for feedback in which over 100,000 responses were sent in and deliberated. Now universities have until Aug. 14 to enforce the finalized changes. UC President Janet Napolitano issued a statement opposing the “ill-conceived changes” to Title IX. In the statement, she criticizes the Department of Education for ignoring input from students, educators, Title IX experts, and the UC’s own recommendations. “We can do better than this,” said Napolitano. “We have come
16 women have experienced an attempted or completed rape
too far as a nation to halt our progress against sexual harassment.” Under the changes, sexual harassment is now defined as “unwelcome conduct that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school’s education program or activity.” It’s a stricter definition when compared to the previous Obama-era of “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.” Schools are also not accountable for off-campus incidents of sexual misconduct unless they occur on university-affiliated grounds or at university-sponsored events outside of campus. In other words, sexual harassment or sexual assault at a fraternity house would count. But cases that take place during study abroad programs, private apartments in Isla Vista, or unofficial Greek houses, for example, are not the responsibility of the university to investigate. Local survivor advocates and supporters strongly oppose this guideline. “This is a ridiculous standard that will discourage survivors from reporting,” said Spencer
Brandt, board president of the Isla Vista Community Services District. His criticism of the new regulations hasn’t changed since the board released a statement back in January 2019, calling for the Department of Education to revise their proposed regulations that gave universities no responsibility to address any off-campus cases. Now under the new rules, Brandt says sexual violence cases that happen in most Isla Vista residents will not be investigated. Sarah Carlin, a policy analyst for UCSB’s Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA), calls the regulation “detrimental” for students at UCSB looking to file a Title IX complaint because “so many students socialize and live off campus.” Another major change requires universities to conduct live hearings where both the accused and survivor are subject to cross-examination by the other’s lawyer or representative. This takes away the option for universities to employ a single-investigator model — the same investigator questions both parties and comes to a decision — as has
by the numbers
502
As of 2020
Only about
197
faculty, and employees alike. The UC system currently uses the former standard which survivor advocates say doesn’t discourage survivors from coming forward to the university. With a limited deadline for schools to implement the rules, officials are disappointed with the abrupt timing. “In these uncertain times and added stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, having significant changes released regarding the Title IX policy is disempowering and overwhelming.” says Briana Conway, director of Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education (CARE) at UCSB. CARE provides confidential support to students who have experienced sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking. In the 2018-2019 school year, 430 students disclosed to CARE that they experienced one or more of these acts. The UC Office of the President will access the new guidelines and determine how they will be implemented before the deadline.
The average case takes
Since 2011, the government has opened
investigations on colleges mishandling sexual assault cases.
2 | NEWS
been the case at UCs. DeVos says the change is to ensure impartiality during investigations. Although the survivor is never face-to-face with the accused, some believe subjecting them to a live cross-examination will threaten the survivor from coming forward in the first place for fear of trauma. “These [lawyers or representatives] are not necessarily trauma-informed,” Carlin explained, “meaning that they may not be aware how certain questions can traumatize someone who has experienced sexual violence.” During the grievance process, the complainant is protected by a “rape shield” that guards them from being asked about their sexual history, unless that information is relevant evidence to prove consent or that someone other than the accused is responsible for the misconduct. As for the standard of evidence, schools must choose between the “preponderance of the evidence” standard — in which the accused is found guilty if the evidence shows they are more likely than not — or the “clear and convincing” standard for proceedings on students,
5%
.
years to investigate.
female cases are reported. The number is even smaller for men.
have been resolved.
Strikers End Winter 2020 Grade Strike LAUREN LUNA | Staff Writer n May 1, graduate students participating in the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) strike submitted grades for the quarter and ended their grade strike. This decision came as a response to the announcement that the COLA organizers at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) made on April 27. Within the post, the organizers explain how “the administration has shifted the burden of missing grades from themselves and onto the undergraduates.” This notion prompted them to collectively submit grades from fall and winter. They intend to stay on the picket line but are now looking into organizing a strike in solidarity with the Unfair Labor Practices ( U L P ) c harges filed b y
their labor union, UAW 2865. On May 1, the UCSB COLA chapter released an official letter on ucsb4cola.org stating that it would also end its grade strike. “Looking forward, we realize our best tactics to win a cost-ofliving adjustment has evolved,” said the chapter in its letter. “As we close one path by ending the winter grading strike, our way forward is multilayered and builds on the valuable lessons we have learned thus far.” In their statement, the UCSB chapter cites the responses it — along with chapters at other UC campuses — has encountered during the strike. At UCSC, protestors have dealt with police violence and 54 out of 80 teaching assistants even lost their jobs. At UCSB, the Dean of the Graduate Division Carol Genetti recommended that protestors find help through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in a response to a previous letter aiming to reach a compromise on the grade strike. The COLA movement began as a result of teaching assistants dealing with rent burden. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, it defines it as, “moderately cost-burdened households pay more than 30 percent of income for housing, including utilities;
severely cost-burdened households pay more than 50 percent.” Although teaching assistants contribute a majority of their time and effort into helping the UC system operate, their payments scarcely compensate for what they do. Every month, the UCs grant a stipend of about $2,400 to each graduate student to pay for housing, food, and other necessities. But, housing costs — especially in the state of California — consume more than half of students’ monthly stipends; the average monthly rent for a single bedroom apartment in Isla Vista is around $1,433, which is about 59 percent of their income. These expenses, compounded with the workload of teaching assistants in the UC system, have forced graduate students to sacrifice meals, pay utility bills late, and generally give up the quality of life they deserve. The strike was not simply a fight for employee rights; it was a fight for the very livelihood of its forerunners. The COLA strike began at UCSC in December, where graduate students asked for a minimum of $3,800 per month; UCSB was the second UC to join the COLA cause. While UCSC teaching assistants initially began by withholding grades from their undergraduate courses, the movement escalated to a general strike across multiple UC campuses by the end of February. On Feb. 27, UCSB witnessed
an integration amongst the graduate students, undergraduate students, and other faculty alike in solidarity during their march from Storke Tower to Mosher Alumni House. Over a thousand posts with the #cola4all circulated on Instagram and Twitter and hundreds of users posted photos or streamed videos of the protest. Even people that couldn’t go voiced their support for the strike; some professors even educated their students about the COLA strike and encouraged them to attend. What inspired even more anger than the actual cause for COLA were the responses from administration. UC President Janet Napolitano sent a letter to UCSC’s COLA chapter detailing her decision to not change the stipend amounts for graduate students. “The university will not reopen the agreement or negotiate a separate side-letter,” said Napolitano in her address to the UCSC coalition. “We are sympathetic to the high cost of housing in Santa Cruz and the pressure this puts on teaching assistants, but a wildcat strike is not the way to get relief.” As for UCSB, Chancellor Henry T. Yang issued a statement on the day of the march acknowledging the concerns of the COLA strike. “We are committed to working collaboratively to find solutions that address the concerns of all of our graduate and undergraduate
students,” said Yang in his address. As of right now, no efforts have been made on the administration's part to actually present negotiable solutions to the living adjustment problem. The grade strike specifically has ended, yet the UCSB chapter is currently looking for new platforms where it can affect change. Recently, the chapter has educated its supporters on a broader range of labor issues, from food insecurity to unsafe working conditions. On May 1, the chapter led a car/bike strike to bail out the working class, and right now it is conducting food drives to support families during the pandemic. The chapter is currently working on its Social Welfare Campaign (SWC), which officially launched on April 1. “While the campaign seeks to mitigate the immediate vulnerabilities within our communities, the SWC is also an effort to grow and solidify our base for further radical action,” explained the chapter in a letter. “When the pandemic passes and our campus reopens (and both these events will occur), we do not intend to return to business as usual.” For more information on the UCSB COLA chapter’s new initiatives, follow @ucsb4cola on Instagram and visit ucsb4cola.org. Photo by Graeme Jackson | Photo Editor
Celebrating
Mother's Day
during a pandemic
ZOEY JIA | Contributing Writer
M
other’s Day during a pandemic has challenged the way we celebrate our mothers. As health officials across the country issued warnings against traveling and visiting parents during the holiday, many skipped tradition in favor of safety. The Bottom Line spoke with members of the community on how interacting with their mothers has changed. Dr. Dorothy Imrich Mullin is a communication professor at UC Santa Barbara who lives 20 minutes away in the same valley as her 86-year-old mother. She visits her about once a week, helping with tidying the dishes and trash. “I used to go to see my mother twice [a week], yet the pandemic limits both the amount of grocery-shopping time and the time spent with her,” Dr. Mullin explained. When Dr. Mullin hugs her mother, she tries to avoid face-to-face contact, in fear of potentially spreading the virus from the outside world. Dr.
Mullin and her mother also call each other several times per day. Because her mother’s memory is not as good as before, she calls to ensure she’s safe. “Sometimes she remembers to take the pills by herself, but a lot of the time she doesn’t. So I have to make sure I remind her of taking them,” Dr. Mullin explained. Apart from “daily checks,” the two get lost in conversations about old movies and what the family is up to, like where her nephew is going to college and how their dog is. “After she calls me to share what happened recently, she may call back five minutes later to share it again,” Dr. Mullin said. The pandemic has Dr. Mullin feeling more concerned for her mother than before, but not without cause. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to grow. Santa Barbara county reported 58 new COVID-19 cases on Mother’s Day, raising the total to 1,308 confirmed cases in the county. Bruce Fan, a first-year student majoring in economics, stayed
TBL 2019-2020 STAFF Editor-in-Chief | Lauren Marnel Shores Managing Editor | Arturo Samaniego Executive Content Editor | Jessica Gang Senior Layout Editor | Christine Ho Senior Copy Editor | Sheila Tran News Editor | Noe Padilla Assistant News Editor | Kyle Dent Features Editor | Alondra Sierra
4 | FEATURES
in the Bay area with his family. His mother is a graduate student at UC Irvine, so the mother and son study together at home. “In the first few weeks of the pandemic, I often called my mother to inform them of the potential danger of the pandemic while she also reminded me to take certain precautions,'' Fan said. They now discuss topics of daily life and the pandemic in person. Whereas Fan used to celebrate Mother’s Day by sending her his paintings, this year he had no special plans or gifts. Dr. Mullin is in the same boat. She used to take her mother out for breakfast during Mother’s Day but now may only visit her with some flowers. While both Dr. Mullin and Fan stayed at home, others decided to celebrate Mother's Day outdoors. As a senior majoring in communication, Kimmy Bao went hiking with her parents to celebrate the holiday. This was
an adjustment to her traditional certainly shifted Mother’s Day Mother’s Day celebration. Other around, it has strengthened the than sending cards every year, appreciation for our mothers as Bao prefers to celebrate Mother’s all three interviewees were Day by enjoying outdoor concerned about the safety of activities with her family. their families. “I used to go out to eat with Illustration by Drew my family members, and do Buchanan | Staff Illustrator other outdoor activities such as going to the park, visiting somewhere, or hiking,” Bao said. Though COVID-19 has
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Sage Avalon
UCSB Student and Indie Pop Producer SHEILA TRAN | Senior Copy Editor hen Sage Avalon moved into San Rafael Hall this past fall, she had no idea that the cramped dorm would be where she’d record her first extended play (EP). By day, the second-year UC Santa Barbara student — real name Sage Tellew — studies general biology. But by night, she’s writing and producing dreamy, haunting soundscapes reminiscent of artists like Bjork and Lana Del Rey. April 15 marked the release of Avalon’s debut EP In Vivo, an alternative/indie pop record that she self-produced between 8 a.m. physics lectures and research assistant shifts. “It was really hard to balance, and I didn’t do a great job of it,” Avalon shared in an interview with The Bottom Line. “I put a lot of attention into my music and definitely sacrificed a lot of sleep.”
Just a year prior, Avalon was completely new to music production. Although she’d been writing her own songs since she was 15, her body of work consisted solely of stripped-down guitar tracks that were “basically just live performances.” Feeling creatively stumped and limited by her inability to play other instruments and layer different sounds, she bought her first digital audio workstation during her first year at UC Santa Barbara. Over the span of seven sleepless months, Avalon laid the groundwork for the EP by experimenting with different music genres and delving deeper into music production. “My genre really shifted throughout the experience of actually making the EP,” Avalon said. The EP is a reflection of that exploration: it features the soft rock “Pure December,” the elec-
tronic-influenced “Hyperspeed,” and even a self-composed string accompaniment on “Lightning in a Bottle.” In Vivo is entirely self-produced, with Avalon on the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, piano, and vocals. Recording an EP in a dorm room, of course, came with its own unique challenges. It meant having to wait for rare quiet moments in her residence hall, usually when her hallmates were at class or asleep. Even then, there were factors that Avalon couldn’t control, like planes flying overhead or lawnmowers running during the day. But being a self-starting artist also came with learning curves in other ways — Avalon had to figure out how to design her own website, create her own graphic design, and even direct her own debut music video for “Pure December.” The song, which touches on addiction and recovery, is
paired with a music video filmed in a retro diner in Avalon’s hometown of San Diego. “A lot of it was really spontaneous,” Avalon explained. “[When we were] filming in that diner, I didn’t even know if that whole section of the diner was going to be empty by that hour.” Most of Avalon’s songs center around subjects like mental illness, addiction, and recovery, but there are some subjects that are off-limits even for her. While she’s grateful for the support of her family — her dad sends all her new songs to family members — she comments with a laugh that “there’s some things where I’m like, dude, my grandma and my great aunt can’t know this.” But that’s really the extent of her struggles with music. Sage Avalon is just getting started, and despite the recent release of her EP, she shares that even more new songs are in the works.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has made it impossible to promote In Vivo through live performances, Avalon is looking to other creative ways to promote her music. There are plans to produce more music videos for the tracks on the EP, stream performances on Twitch, and upcoming video collaborations with other artists. She’s even started her own TikTok to share short performance clips, where you might be able to find a comedy video or two as well. “I just want to get as far as I can with the art that I really enjoy making,” Avalon said. “And just keep making what speaks to me.” Keep up with Sage Avalon on her website, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Listen to her music on Spotify and Apple Music. Photo courtesy of Sage Avalon
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 5
FIVE
To Play with Friends
S
ocial distancing makes me miss my friends. With schoolwork dominating my days, finding time and excuses to bask in their virtual presence has grown especially difficult. We can’t kick it like we used to, but it is still possible to have a good time via weekly game nights on Zoom. Here are a few of our favorites for you and your friends to play during self-quarantine.
CELINE PUN | Contributing Writer
1. "Chess" (Two or four players; computer, mobile) The godliest strategy game. Chess may appear to be an intimidating intellectual’s passtime, but once you learn the function of each piece you can conquer the world. Just kidding. (But chess does tend to be used symbolically for wars.) With a free account, members have access to daily puzzles, progress reports, and exciting variations of chess games that challenge creativity. For example, the fourperson chess variation is quite chaotic. The website also allows you to change game lengths, an incredible feature that allows players to pick between short study breaks or long games that thicken with tension with time. I love watching the night pass by, playing “mind and body” chess with friends over Zoom, a mode where one player in a team selects a type of piece and another player moves the piece with no communication in between.
2. “Clash Royale” (Two or four players; mobile)
3. “The World of Magic” (no limit; computer, mobile)
4. “Sketchful.io” (up to 64 players; computer)
5. “Bananagrams” (up to eight; computer)
A card game developed by Supercell, where players create decks of cards — characters with various powers and stats — to destroy towers within a time frame. Winners receive chests with cards, and collecting multiples of the same cards allows an upgrade. I love spontaneously calling my friends to battle (but only when players are level eight) and if we are in the same clan, we can participate in 2 vs. 2 battles with two other friends. This app is always updating so there are often new events and features that keep the game interesting. One of my favorite updates is the cute emotes, which my friends and I like to use to mock enemies — the dabbing wizard is my frequent choice.
An adorable role-playing game where you can start off as a warrior, ranger, or magician. Start off by fighting monsters and completing quests. Players can also trade, chat, or join guilds to player vs. player (PVP) with enemies. My sisters and I enjoy racing with our guildmates in the Philippines to find rare items like scrolls or weapons. This game also updates often, creating exciting events and features that make it borderline addictive.
A pictionary game in which players take turns drawing pictures and other players guess the word. The faster players guess the word correctly, the more points they receive. A pleasant ice breaker with a simple concept — everyone is capable of drawing. This website allows for customizable words and rooms, perfect for game nights, especially for large groups over Zoom. It can be quite difficult to draw on a computer compared to a phone or tablet, but the results draw laughter regardless.
A Scramble-like game, in which players make their own crosswords out of the same amount of letters. The first one to use up their pieces forces everyone to draw another letter. Players can also dump their letter for three more letters. This game is perfect to play with children, and looking up words online to check if they’re real can be a good learning experience even if you are not a child. I used to play this game at church with friends, but due to the quarantine, we’ve shifted to this online platform to play with each other long distance.
6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Illustrations by Drew Buchanan |Staff Illustrator
Movies After COVID-19 The Uncertain Future of Movie Releases KATELIN GODBOLD | Contributing Writer
T
he way that audiences enjoy movies has been rapidly changing in the past 20 years. Methods for watching movies have ranged from VHS to more recent DVDs, and eventually the endless streaming platforms that we see today. With an ongoing pandemic and an already changing industry, one has to question what is in store for the movie industry. In recent months, film studios have faced a predicament. Theaters have closed to uphold social distancing and safety precautions, leaving studios without the traditional method for releasing their films. Theaters have been struggling to survive, being closed for long periods of time has cut into profits, and even the large chain AMC is rumored to be filing for bankruptcy. Consequently, numerous
companies have postponed movie releases until traditional releases are a viable option. Universal, however, has been a pioneer during these unprecedented times with its newest film, “Trolls: World Tour.” The studio released the film straight to home streaming for a rental price of $19.99 on platforms such as YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and Amazon Prime. This choice to skip a theatrical release is almost equivalent to the “straight to DVD” system of the past, leaving many skeptical if Universal would find success in this release. For those unfamiliar with the concept, “straight to DVD” is when a studio creates a film and sends it directly to stores for purchase rather than having a theatrical release. Disney, for example, has done this multiple times in the past with many of its sequels,
with movies such as “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride” or “Tarzan II.” The direct digital release of “Trolls: World Tour” has been met with much success. Universal has stated that the film has been more successful than its predecessor, as well as breaking records for digital releases that include “most pre-ordered title ever,” “best-selling opening day,” and “best-selling film over its first three days of digital release,” according to Indiewire. Universal’s choice to digitally release this film has opened more possibilities for future movie releases, potentially even those beyond the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this may be new and untrodden territory for large studios, the indie film community has used this method for a long
time. For small studios, online releases are often more accessible and successful because of financial constraints related to physically airing films. With a plethora of existing websites that stream indie movies, smaller movie theaters have also gotten ahead of the game by shifting to online streaming options. One example of how the indie film community is working through the pandemic can be seen with the SBIFF Riveria Theatre, located in Santa Barbara. The theater is currently offering its films for digital rental to serve as an alternative form of income during the closure. Universal’s choice to digitally release its newest animated film leaves questions that may take some time to be answered. Streaming platforms have been steadily growing in popularity
in recent years and have become extremely successful with their own films and shows. Netflix, for example, grew from a small rental company to broadcasting its own original shows and movies to over 180 million subscribers worldwide. The success of streaming platforms like Netflix makes it hard to ignore the benefits of online streaming. This leaves one to wonder whether other studios will release films digitally as well, or stick out the pandemic to have a traditional theatrical release. Some theaters have recently mentioned opening their doors — such as the theater chain Cinemark, which hopes to be opened by July. Studios face a complex decision in the coming months: whether they will release films if these theaters do open, continue to postpone releases, or follow in Universal’s steps to release films digitally. Studios must also consider if the choice to release movies digitally is a temporary fix. Transitioning to online releases in the future could be beneficial to companies, but it’s uncertain whether all movies can be as successful as “Trolls: World Tour,” since theatrical releases have been the tradition for so long. Additionally, the theaters that do air these movies must be considered in the transition to the post-COVID-19 movie scene. As fewer studios choose to air movies in theaters, companies may be forced to close locations due to a lack of revenue. Fewer locations would significantly change how new movies reach audiences. With an already changing movie industry, the current pandemic has raised many questions: what will future movie releases look like? Are these changes from the pandemic permanent? Studios must look further into Universal’s recent success and consider options available to them going forward.
Photo by Graeme Jackson | Photo Editor
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7
Psychological Effects of LAUREN MARNEL SHORES | Editor-in-Chief
“As the COVID-19 crisis continues to impact communities in startling and unforeseen ways, psychologists have begun acknowledging the symptoms of anxiety, grief, and even trauma that individuals are facing during this time.” On March 14, Chancellor Henry T. Yang announced that the university would transition to remote instruction for the duration of spring quarter in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, students have watched as June commencement has been moved online, summer classes continue transitioning to remote learning, and now, incoming freshmen have been told to stay home for summer orientation — left without any guarantee of whether they’ll even be welcomed on campus in the fall. With each coming week, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) students are alerted to increasingly disheartening news of the loss of their expected college experience; with each day, national news alerts of the growing unrest rippling through the country. As the COVID-19 crisis continues to
8 | SCIENCE & TECH
impact communities in startling and unforeseen ways, psychologists have begun acknowledging the symptoms of anxiety, grief, and even trauma that individuals are facing during this time. Janet Osimo, assistant clinical director and psychologist at UCSB Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), told The Bottom Line that students are experiencing a “general frustration” with the virtual transition. “There’s really a sense of loss and unarticulated grieving around what this experience has taken away,” explained Osimo. “Whether it be connection, milestone moments, the experience of spring quarter, in-class learning — there’s any number of things that students are feeling a loss about. I don’t know that they would put it in those words, but it might look like frustra-
tion, lethargy, short temperedness, maybe more easily tearful.” In an interview with American Psychological Association (APA), Dr. George Bonanno, head of the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab at Columbia University, elaborated that loss doesn’t simply pertain to death, but rather individuals “experience grief over anything that feels like a loss of identity.” The sense of what it means to be a college student when one is physically separated from campus; the feeling of what it means to be part of a community when all of the other members are pixels on a screen; the question of what it means to have spent years working towards a college degree only to graduate in one of the greatest recessions since the Great Depression — all of these concerns are enough to trigger an immense sense of loss
for students during this time. Osimo continued by stating that students are not only learning to cope with the new concerns introduced by the pandemic, but they are simultaneously working to manage the magnified intensity of pre-existing stressors in their life. “Regardless of what you were experiencing before COVID, that’s likely exacerbated in isolation,” Osimo stated. Amidst this period of ambiguous fear, UCSB Associate Dean and Director of Health and Wellness Sharleen O’Brien stated, “We want students to know that even if we can’t all gather together here on campus, they’re still part of the UCSB community, and there are so many people here who want to support them.” In an effort to increase support for students by making
CAPS more accessible, the office recently launched a new initiative called “Let’s Talk.” This program is available for students who are not looking for a full therapy session, but instead are interested in a one-time 20-minute  appointment to talk through various issues with a psychologist. Other resources available to students include Health and Wellness’ live mediation series available via Zoom, online free yoga classes offered by the Recreation Center, and plans for an online dog therapy day later this quarter. Students can search for upcoming wellness programming through the events page on Shoreline’s website O’Brien explained that many of these virtual resources have been created thanks to the work of student interns. The Health and Wellness In-
terns] are doing an amazing job to make sure people feel as connected as possible,” O’Brien said. Indeed, this sense of social connection plays a key role in coping with stress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website offers tips for self care, citing that connecting with others is important not only for one’s own wellbeing, but also because “helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.” “If someone is feeling alone or disconnected, please reach out to someone you can trust,” said O’Brien. “Or reach out to Health and Wellness and we can help connect them with people who can help them as well.” Students who
are experiencing distress during this time can continue to access CAPS. Osimo explained that, in fact, many students have been reporting easier accessibility to CAPS this quarter, with many expressing gratitude that CAPS is still available during quarantine. “We’ve been hearing from students that they think we’re more accessible and that it’s easier to get an appointment,” said Osimo. “The time that you come in for the brief assessment, and the time that you talk to a therapist in the first appointment is much shorter now.” Students who wish to make an appointment with CAPS can do so by registering through the link on its website. When asked what she wished for students to know, Osimo said simply that she asks for students to be compassionate with themselves and those around them. “If we find ourselves short-tempered or sort of lost and unanchored, that’s absolutely common and normal,” Osimo ex-
plained. “And just give space for that and some self compassion and continue to take care of yourself. When in doubt, go back to basics: hydrating, eating, sleeping, exercising. Take care of yourself. The body is connected to the heart and the soul and the mind and if we take care of that, we take care of all of it.” Illustration by Sophia Zhou | Staff Illustrator
“Other resources available to students include Health and Wellness’s live mediation series available via zoom, online free yoga classes offered by the Recreation Center, and plans for an online dog therapy day later this quarter.” SCIENCE & TECH | 9
Midterms During COVID-19
Should Professors Make Accommodations for Students? KAYLA CURTIS-EVANS | Staff Writer
M
idterms can be stressful enough for college students tackling multiple classes at once, as they are usually worth a large portion of the final grade for a class. But taking midterms online for a large portion of a grade — while living through a global pandemic — is unprecedented. In light of the circumstances that have arisen over the past few months due to COVID-19, many students hoped for leniency in regards to class expectations, but have professors met those expectations? Over the past few months, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) has converted all classes and academic facilities from in-person to completely remote. The shift from in-person to remote classes has affected learning and students’ abilities to retain information, access academic resources, and receive academic guidance or advising when needed. It can be very difficult to focus in a non-traditional classroom setting, especially with the anxiety that COVID-19 brings. Furthermore, many students are concerned
10 | OPINIONS
about having proper access to the Internet or personal computers, as most exams have been moved to an online format through Gauchospace or virtual proctoring platforms such as ProctorU. Worrying about grades — or even worrying about having proper access to education — while also worrying about the health and wellbeing of ourselves and our loved ones takes a huge toll on students both mentally and physically. It is important that all of this is taken into consideration by professors and UCSB faculty. In regard to lectures and class notes, for the past quarter they have been easily accessible since many
professors provide recordings of class content or host live lectures through Zoom. Teaching assistants are usually readily available for any student questions or inquiries through Zoom as well. Professors, faculty, and teaching assistants deserve praise for attempting to make this switch as seamless as possible. But tests bring a whole different set of concerns. Tests are inherently nerveracking, and taking a test from your computer introduces more possible stresses in regards to technology; as advanced and nuanced as it is,
technology is not always reliable. Some students have taken entire tests only to have Gauchospace glitch and discount all of their work. Along with that, tests are also a lot easier to take in a structured classroom format. Taking a test at home while your 10 housemates or your family are also doing schoolwork or watching television can be very distracting. Students are expected to perform just as they did when classes were in person, and these expectations are unrealistically high with so much going on in the world during these times. Acing a test at
home instead of in a quiet classroom is very difficult, especially when you may only have a small window of time in which you may complete an exam. The time limits that are given for online tests are another contributor to students’ stress levels. Most midterm exams are lengthy in terms of questions; they usually consist of 40-50 questions or multiple short essays and must be completed in one- or two-hour windows. Changing online tests to a more forgiving format, such as one that grants 24-hour windows to complete an exam, could alleviate students’ anxieties. Students are dealing with so much more than just schoolwork at this time, and if remote instruction continues, it is only fair that professors should be increasingly lenient. Instructors should consider experimenting with new testing methods that are simpler or that have increased flexibility in regards to time limits, as well as structuring courses to be less rigorous, so as to avoid exacerbating students’ already peaking stress levels.
Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director
How to Shop Online Like A Pro CHRISTINE HO | Senior Layout Editor
A
s we trudge into month two (three? four?) of quarantine, many of us have found solace in online shopping. Maybe because scrolling through endless pages of product kills time and distracts us from the emptiness of our lives, or maybe because knowing your package will arrive in three to five business days gives us something to look forward to, online shopping has become even more popular recently. However, our wallets may not be agreeing with this new hobby we’ve picked up, and that is why I am here to offer some tips and tricks to use while online shopping.
Credit Card Cashback
Flash Sale Sites
Flash sales are two- to threeday sales where products are being offered at a heavy discount. Many online clothing stores have been having flash sales in order to boost business, and a good way to keep track of these or to be notified when your favorite brands are on sale is through flash sale sites. Gilt is a flash sale site that focuses primarily on luxury and high-end brands. Hautelook is a subsidiary of Nordstrom, and also has flash sales with new brands every day. Plus, for Nordstrom credit cardholders, Hautelook purchases carry the same benefits!
Rakuten (Ebates)
Rakuten (previously known as Ebates) is a website as well as a web extension that gives you cashback on purchases. They offer anywhere from 1-15 percent cashback on hundreds of online stores, and all you have to do is either activate the Web extension or visit the online store via Rakuten’s website. Cashback options include receiving a physical check, getting paid via PayPal, or receiving membership rewards points for American Express cardholders.
Location
This tip is a weird one, but consider changing the location of the online shop you are shopping at, and change your location accordingly. This is because if the store is located somewhere with different seasons, their sale items will differ from those they offer to U.S. customers. By changing locations, you may be able to find better deals on items that are in season for the U.S., and not in other countries!
Another way to get cashback is directly through your credit card bank. Major banks (Bank of America, Chase, Citi, etc.) offer different cashback options, and you can save money by paying attention and activating those offers! For example, Bank of America offers individual cashback deals with vendors that change from month to month, but cardholders can also get three percent cashback on a category of their choice (online shopping, dining, travel, etc.). Cardholders can change this preference once a month. Chase and Citibank both offer quarterly cashback deals. For this quarter, Citi is offering five percent on drug stores and Amazon, and Chase is offering five percent cashback on grocery stores, fitness memberships, and select streaming services.
Honey
Honey is a free Chrome web extension that scours the web for coupon codes for your purchase. Before checking out, click the Honey icon on your toolbar, and it will automatically start inputting coupon codes for you. Just check out the Chrome Web Store to start using Honey today! Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director
OPINIONS | 11
"The Sims" vs. "Animal Crossing" Why “Animal Crossing” Wins Every Time SOFIA LYON | Layout Editor
S
o, it’s finally come to this. The world amidst pandemic has shed light on a myriad of issues, but one of the most divisive is which life simulation video game reigns supreme. On one hand, we have the notorious "The Sims," a franchise dating back to the late 1980s. On the other hand, we have the coveted "Animal Crossing," a staple game for many that are sequestered at home during quarantine. Today, we will resolve this conflict once and for all. Today, I will unquestionably prove why "Animal Crossing" is, and always will be, the superior video game. Let me begin by saying, "The Sims"? More like, "Adult Life, But Virtual." "The Sims" puts its player through the wringer of a normal and mundane adult routine. Your Sim has to get a job (and even an education in several iterations of the game) and work a certain amount of hours just to earn money to buy the bland, hyper-realistic furniture to decorate your bland, unexciting house. In "Animal Crossing," you can choose how you want to make bells! Whether you trade items with villagers, catch rare insects and fish, or literally discover and sell fossils buried in the ground, money making methods are fun, diverse, and simple! It’s time to address the elephant in the room. Everyone loves to come for Tom Nook and
12 | OPINIONS
his capitalist practices, but get this: in almost every version of the game, the player shows up to a random town (or island) with virtually no money, no job, and nothing at all to their name. Tom Nook appears and decides to trust the player, a random stowaway who for all we know is running away from some dubious situation in a far off town. He gives you a house, puts no deadline on your debt, and even allows you to completely modify the house! And he doesn’t even charge interest on his loans! Now that’s a generous landlord if I ever knew one. Maybe there is a bit
more flexibility with house modification in "The Sims," but take one look at my mermaid-esque exterior and weep. Secondly, who actually wants to play a game that embeds social skills and pressure into its gameplay? Your so-called friends in "The Sims" can suddenly dislike you at the wrong click of a button. Even if you intentionally annoy your "Animal Crossing" villagers, they will still act friendly towards you the next day. Or even better, they move out of your town! 2020 is all about removing toxic people from our lives and "Animal Crossing" is
here for it. Plus, do your friends in "The Sims" throw you a surprise party on your birthday, or send you a framed picture of themselves as a teary farewell gift? No? I didn’t think so. Let’s move on to perhaps one of the most glaring points: "The Sims" needs expansion packs in order to do anything cool or otherworldly! The current retail price of "The Sims 4" is a whopping $50, without any of the unique expansions. Perhaps "Animal Crossing" is on the more expensive side, but at least it naturally looks cute and inviting. Furthermore, the new "An-
imal Crossing: New Horizons" gives players the ability to manipulate the landscape beyond what was ever possible in previous versions of the game. The player now has even more control in crafting their ideal town. Bet you can’t do that in "The Sims," at least not without one of those lousy expansion packs. Finally, we already have to worry about our appearance and maintain proper hygiene in real life — who wants their virtual avatar to lose friends on account of bad body odor? Sure, you’ll get bedhead in "Animal Crossing" if you don’t play for a few weeks, but a quick trip to Shampoodle will fix that. Did you hear that? "Shampoodle." A hair salon run by a perky poodle. Who wouldn’t want to get their hair done there? I guess a "Sims" avatar could resemble the player, but I get enough of my own face during the day. Just let me look chibi-fied when I want to relax! The bottom line: Video games are all about escapism. Is "The Sims" really an escape? Illustration by Echo Dieu | Staff Illustrator
OPINIONS | 11
STUDYING BY THE SHORE A ZOOM BACKGROUND
Illustration by ECHO DIEU | Staff Illustrator
Comic by DREW BUCHANAN | Staff Illustrator
Comic of the Week
Comic by JAKE ORTEGA | Comic Artist
ILLUSTRATION | 13
ESSENTIAL WORKERS AT THE FRONT LINES GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor
UCSB’s Arbor still remains open until 4 p.m. on weekdays despite the rest of campus being entirely closed.
Public transportation workers are still running routes and serving the Santa Barbara area.
14 | PHOTOSTORY
Student Health remains open with officials out in the front of the building to determine the proper practices for students needing treatment.
A surge in online shopping has meant delivery services like the USPS remain as active as ever.
After over 75 years of service to the greater Santa Barbara area, MarBorg Industries remains an integral part of the Isla Vista community as waste management employees continue their work.
With fall quarter likely moving online, UCSB dining commons are offering take-out options for the entire '20-'21 academic year.
PHOTOSTORY | 15
The Bottom adle Illustration by ALYSSA LONG | Art Director Recipe by FABIOLA ESQUEDA | Video Editor
ILLUSTRATION | 16