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

APRIL 17, 2019

VOLUME VIII, ISSUE XVIII

D R A G in the

PRIDE

Photo by SAMUEL YANG | Staff Photographer

MUSIC OF ZIMBABWE Spring 2019's World Music Series kicked off the quarter with Music of Zimbabwe and Masanga Marimba, a celebration of African and Latin American music.

A&E | PAGE 6-7

PHOTOSTORY PAGE 12 STAR PARTY Last Saturday, Palmer Observatory opened its telescope to free public use at its monthly Star Party, an event aimed at encouraging community interest in astronomy.

S&T | PAGE 8

A.S. SENATE to Pass Resoultion on

FAILS L

ast night in Corwin Pavilion, UCSB’s Associated Students (A.S.) Senate once again failed to pass a resolution on divestment, voting 10-14-0 against the resolution via a secret ballot. This delib-

eration followed a 10 and a half hour meeting, with public forum stretching past 2:00 a.m. Co-authored by Senators Uribe and Briseno, the resolution directs the UC to divest funding from companies who provide military assistance or facilitate the economic development of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. This most recent chapter in the divestment discussion marks the sixth time since its introduction in 2013 that A.S. has both opened discussion on and failed to pass such a resolution. “These companies are providing weapons to one side and I do not feel comfortable knowing that is where my money is being spent. This university needs to focus on being financially neutral in this situation rather than clearly favoring one side with our funds,” said public forum speak-

2 | NEWS

DIVESTMENT LAUREN MARNEL SHORES | Executive Content Editor

er Zainab Bansfield during last night’s meeting. Specifically, the resolution calls for divestment from Boeing, CNH Industrial, Caterpillar, Cemex, General Dynamics, General Electric, L-3 Technologies, Lock-

heed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Siemens, United Technologies, and Valero Energy; UCSB’s Associated Students and other UC organizations have investments amounting to a total of $127 million during the 2018 fiscal year, according to the resolution. This list of 13 corporations is an increase from last year’s resolution, which did not previously include Boeing, CNH Industrial, Caterpillar, Raytheon, and Siemens. With a public forum speaker list of 89 names, community members expressed a wide array of opinions on the matter, in which the last speaker waited five and a half hours between the time they signed up on the speaker’s list to actually appearing before Senate at 2:29 a.m. Much of the controversy

surrounding the debate revolves around claims that the resolution is anti-Semitic in nature by choosing to withdraw from countries specifically invested in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. This fear has been bolstered by flyers found on March 31 along the 65 and 66 blocks of Del Playa drive with statements such as “Jews worship the Devil” and “The Holocaust is a LIE.” These flyers have since been condemned in an official statement by A.S. Senate; however, multiple speakers at last night’s meeting stated they felt that it was insensitive timing to introduce the divestment resolution the week following such an event. “As soon as that was condemned by this body, and said they stand against all forms of antiSemitism, this resolution was released,” said Aaron Raimi, a first year political science major during public forum. “Now I don’t think that’s any sort of coincidence.” “From hate crimes perpetrated by our community members

to anti-Semitic flyers found outside our homes, the last month has been a trip. And just when we thought it was done, we have BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] presented the next week,” said Aaron Hendizadeh, the former Second Senate Pro-Tempore. “It’s been seen in campuses all across the country that once BDS passes, it becomes a kind of more acceptable to be anti-Semetic [sic].” Student sponsors Dylan Kupsh and Fatima Adbel-Gwad defended the resolution during new business, stating that it is “not seeking to divest from a people or place, but from companies.” Furthermore, they touched on their intention to separate this resolution from the BDS movement as a whole, stating, “We should follow what’s in writing with this resolution … we shouldn’t conflate with more terms. We should be talking about this resolution. We should be talking about what’s here.” Following 10 and a half hours

in Corwin Pavilion, Senate unanimously moved into a secret ballot in which the resolution failed with 10 in favor, 14 against, and zero abstentions. “Everyone on both sides, thank you. It was really great listening to all of you speak tonight. We had a lot of really passionate speakers and a lot of really heartfelt stories tonight. Go get some, please,” Internal Vice President Steven Ho said, ending the meeting at 4:55 a.m. TBL’s Senate live coverage from the evening can be found on our Twitter page. Stay tuned, as TBL will provide further in-depth coverage of the Divestment debate and its impact on the UCSB community. Minh Hua, Annette Ding, Arturo Samaniego, Jessica Gang, Noe Padilla, Annie Huang, Raymond Matthews, Juan Gonzalez, Fabiola Esqueda, and Sam Yang contributed reporting. Photos by Samuel Yang | Staff Photographer Juan Gonzalez | Photo Editor

UCSB INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ADVISORY BOARD PROVIDES NEEDED REPRESENTATION ON CAMPUS MINH HUA | Campus Beat Reporter

stablished in winter 2018, the International Students Advisory Board (ISAB) advocates for the academic support and intercultural competency of international students at UC Santa Barbara. The Board’s six active members are currently engaged in research to understand the individualized experiences of international students on campus and to unmask common stereotypes. In 2018, international students made up 12 percent of the undergraduate student population and 31 percent of the graduate population. Over 70 percent of the total international student population comes from the People's Republic of China, followed by four percent from India. There has been a steady increase in both the undergraduate and graduate international student population percentage, as seen by the fact that the respective numbers were eight and 26 in 2016 and 10 and 29 in 2017. Speaking from their own experiences of social misconception, cultural stereotyping, and political underrepresentation, ISAB board members expressed their desire to better the experience of their fellow international students at UCSB. According to Joyce Lu, ISAB

board member and a third year economics and accounting major, international students’ issues are usually expressed by professors or administration, often leaving out the nuanced facets that comes directly from students’ individual experiences. As a result, much of the Board’s work involves researching and collecting data on international students. This can be in the form of articles concerning international students, initiatives at other campuses, and email surveys. “ISAB acts as a ‘bridge’ between [the Office of International Student Scholars] and the international students community,” said Erika Shinoda, fellow board member and second year communication major with a theater minor, “ISAB creates a space where we feel free to say as students what needs to be fixed. We can say it directly to the adults who are working and they can give us feedback on what’s realistic and what’s not. ”To better include student perspective, the Board hosts events and generates email surveys that are sent out international students through OISS, providing a potential outlet to voice their story. “I’ve been here for two years and I’ve heard many things like

[Chinese students] are just a bunch of rich kids who’s trying to get an American diploma. They have money so they don’t care about anything,” said ISAB Board Member Daniel Gao. “This is not real.” According to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, for the 2019-2020 academic year, Non-California residents face $61,683 in tuition, nearly double the $32,691 of California Residents. Moreover, many of the Board’s members agree on the difficulty of obtaining funding from Associated Students (A.S.) for international students-related events. According to Shinoda, it was only with the recent creation of the A.S. Global Gaucho Commission, a committee dedicated toward representing and allocating funding to international organizations on campus, that the community finally has a say in student government. “If we pay a significantly higher tuition than American students, then do we not, at the very least, deserve to get equal opportunities and access to the same resources?” said Churay. “I want to be treated the same way you are treated. There are so many things that international students are left out of.”

Consequently, the Board engages in weekly research into scholarly discourse and student surveys in order to identity and propose solutions to the aforementioned issues. For some of the Board members, the solution involves a social collaboration between students of from all sides. Offering a critical examination of his community, Gao states that Chinese students, who make up 73 percent of the international student population, need to break out of their comfort zone and connect with the local population. “There’s in invisible cultural gap that we are too shy to cross,” said Gao. “In my opinion, our relationship with local students are getting worse — I heard a classmate say that we are here to take their [the local students’] opportunities.” According to Shinoda, Churay and Gao, the Board’s diversity is a great example of the productive collaboration of cultural differences. With representatives from China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Dubai, and many others, the path to pancultural understanding is an acknowledgement of individual differences and a celebration of individual similarities. Speaking to the diversity,

Phuong Bui, a third year economics and accounting major, stated that because her respective community makes up just around one percent of the international students community, serving on the Board takes as much pancultural empathy as individual pride in one’s own culture. In addition, the Board’s many members are involved with on campus cultural organizations such as Japanese Students Association (JSA), Chinese Students Association (CSA), and Lebanese Social Club, and have described these organizations as a cooperative space for local students to immerse themselves in a different culture as well as a place for international students to feel at home. “I’m so proud of everything we do, and just having seen so many perspectives because we are such a diverse group. I’m proud of just learning about the different cultures and having the facts,” said Churay. Interested Gauchos can apply until May 15 at the link http://oiss. sa.ucsb.edu/programs/international-student-advisory-board to serve on the Board. Annette Ding contributed reporting.

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 Features Editor | Victoria Penate Arts & Entertainment Editor | Addison Morris Science & Tech Editor | Hannah Maerowitz Opinions Editor | Jessica Gang Video Editor | Fabiola Esqueda Advertising Director | Tanya Gosselin Marketing Director | Erica Kaplan

Web Editor | Docean Park Layout Editor | Elaine Chen Pages: 4, 5, 6

Layout Editor | Chrissy Cho Pages: 7,8,9

Layout Editor | Vivianna Shields Pages: 10,11,12

NEWS | 3

ALL ABOUT SUMMER

ANNIE HUANG | Staff Writter

sessions at UCSB

or students interested in earning course credit more efficiently here at UC Santa Barbara, summer sessions may be an appropriate choice. The sessions, labeled A-G depending on which portion of the summer they will take place, offer a variety of popular classes for students of all majors. Registration for summer sessions began during the second week of April, with pass 2 hap-

4 | FEATURES

pening April 22 through April 30, based on class standing. For UC undergraduates, tuition begins with a $490.50 campus-based fee and increases by $280.00 per unit, with no additional unit fees after 15 units. While the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) doesn’t apply towards a financial aid package specifically for the summer quarter, students may choose to withdraw aid from

the standard school year to help pay for summer sessions courses. In addition, the UCSB Office of summer sessions offers up to $1,700 to replace aid that some students may have received through FAFSA. A housing incentive is also given to those who choose to live in university housing over the summer. An estimate of summer financial aid can be found using the financial aid calculator pro-

vided on the Office of Financial Aid website. It should also be noted that UC students who are not permanent residents of California do not have to pay out-of-state fees for summer sessions, making it a potentially more affordable quarter at UCSB for these students. The additional units earned during summer sessions can greatly benefit students who are trying to get ahead, catch up, or fit in an additional major or minor. Miso Jang, a fourth year sociology and Asian American studies double major and education minor, recommends that students consider summer sessions if they feel that they “might not be able to graduate in four years.” Whether this is due to not getting classes or simply needing to extend a heavy course load over more quarters, summer sessions offer multiple benefits to students. The difficulty of summer classes compared to their regular academic year counterparts may vary, heavily depending on the professor and content of the course. “All of your classes are going to be faster-paced, but you'll also have less overall content to focus on with only two to three classes,” said second year computer science major Max Lee-Roller, who took Computer Science 8, Math 4A, and History 4B during summer sessions. Because of the shorter schedule, courses may drop material, which can be a pro or con depending on whether future classes will build on that knowledge or not. Students also described their time during summer sessions as a calmer, less stressful period despite the increased speed of

their classes. Third year communication major Autumn Murphy took Communication 124 and Interdisciplinary 188C and believes that, despite having the same professor for a repeated class over the summer session, she “find[s] the regular school year harder because of more responsibility outside of school.” Fourth year electrical engineering major Ricky Ko — who took Classics 60, Physics 2, and Math 6A together over summer sessions — told The Bottom Line that, due to the smaller class sizes, “professors and TAs also tend to have more time to help individual students.” During a summer session, students can take advantage of a more relaxed period, allowing greater time to develop better connections with their professors. On the other hand, whether summer sessions are the best choice for any given individual depends on each student’s particular circumstances and goals. “I would encourage students to look for internship or summer job opportunities instead,” said Ko. “These will add a lot more to your resume and life experience in general.” Furthermore, as an alternative, local community colleges often offer courses with UCSB-transferable units at a much lower cost. This is a viable option for those who need additional course credits but wish to avoid the cost of enrolling at UCSB over the summer. Victoria Penate contributed reporting. Photo Courtesy of Digital Asset Library | UCSB

UCSB STUDENTS STRIKE A POSE

AT ANNUAL PRIDE WEEK VANESSA SU | Staff Writer

VANESSA SU

elebrating UCSB’s ninth annual Pride Week, the Queer Commission at UCSB hosted a variety of events from a student-run fashion show at Corwin Pavilion to a workout camp at the university Recreation Center during the week of Apr. 7-12. To wrap up the eventful week, the Queer Commission hosted its popular Pride Drag Show on the night of Apr. 11, showcasing many electrifying acts from student and local drag performers. Queer Commission is a group under Associated Students that was formed in the school year of 20072008 and has served as a representative body for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) students on campus. A highly popular tradition of Pride Week is the Pride Drag Show,

which was held in Campbell Hall this year. This year, the drag show contained a mix of local drag queens and kings, student drag queens and kings, and even guest appearances from queer rapper Aja and Tatianna from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.” Finishing sixth place on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Tatianna hails from Virginia and started doing drag in 2007. A proud icon for young audiences exploring their sexualities and gender identities as well as drag, she continues to perform drag and has even performed with Charli XCX for Charli’s song “1999.” Also a past participant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Aja was raised in Brooklyn, New York City and started drag when they were 16 and participated in multiple drag contests. After their fair share of drag

shows, they decided to transition to music and eventually released a debut EP titled “In my Feelings” in May 2018 and recently came out with their debut studio album called “Box Office” in Feb. 2019. A campus building commonly used to hold AS Program Board events, Campbell Hall was an ideal setting for the sold-out drag show as students were given comfortable seating and adequate aisle space as they enjoyed the show. As the students waited in line to enter the venue, it was obvious many had been looking forward to the show as they clutched dollar bills, waiting to throw them at their favorite performers or friends that they were there to cheer on. The show was hosted by a cheery Maddy Mokes — Santa Barbara’s Queen of Pride in 2017 — who

brought an infectious energy that had the crowd standing on their feet and cheering. The show’s lineup consisted of performances from Vivan Storm, Coco D. Baucherry, Maddy Mokes, Kandy Apple, Gaia Genesis, King Karluh, Moose Velvet, Jenni Baby, Tatianna, Eris Heiress, Glitter, Sara Tonin, Ella Devil, Penile Fauna, Professor Cunnilingus, Doniana, Levi Divine, Sarelia Rouge, Rogue, and Aja. Using popular songs from iconic artists like Queen and Whitney Houston, the performers gave it their all while on the stage and vibrantly depicted the feelings of pride and happiness connected to being open about their gender identities and sexualities. The crowd cheering out of sheer joy and elation for the performers gave the show a heartwarming energy as fellow students

threw cash at the performers and hollered support for the drag queens and kings. Overall, the Drag Show truly showed a refreshing side of UCSB as the electrifying performers strutted and prowled on the stage with the supportive hoots of their peers in the audience. This big event was intended to bring awareness of the LBTQI students and staff on campus, which highlights the meaning behind Pride Week and promotes a message of support and awareness towards the LBTQI population on campus and around the world.

Photo by Samuel Yang | Staff Photographer

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 5

MASANGA MARIMBA BRIGHTENS UCSB MUSIC BOWL WITH MUSIC OF ZIMBABWE RAYMOND MATTHEWS | Staff Writer

CSB is well known for its classical music performances, featuring multiple, high-end concerts, operas, and musicals per year. However, the university also boasts multiple smaller-scale performances of contemporary music from diverse cultures, ranging from the soaring vocals and distinct drumbeats of Indian music to the vibrant percussion and strings found in traditional Hispanic music. One can watch these fun, small shows for free in the Music Department’s outdoor music bowl at noon on Wednesdays as a part of the university's World Music Series. Some have criticized the performance arts at UCSB as overwhelmingly Euro-centric, often leaving other cultural showcases as mere footnotes in the university’s arts and entertainment programs. In an effort to diver-

sify UCSB’s performance arts, the Multicultural Center and the Ethnomusicology program have partnered to put on the spring 2019 World Music Series. The first exhibition in this series, Music of Zimbabwe and Masanga Marimba, took place on Wednesday, April 11, and combined the celebratory music of Zimbabwe with the vibrant marimba stylings of Guatemala into one highly distinctive performance. The group was led by Dr. Ric Alviso, an ethnomusicologist who currently teaches world music and general education at Cal State University, Northridge. In an interview with The Bottom Line, Dr. Alviso said that he draws his influences from “Shona and Mandinka music from Africa, Indonesian gamelan, Albanian folk music, and various Latin American and Native American

6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

styles.” This broad mix of styles shone through in the group’s performance. Through their seamless blend of Zimbabwean marimba, saxophones, percussion, and trumpets, the group maintained a sound all their own while still staying true to the native spirit of Zimbabwe. Dr. Alviso cites the marimba as a key component of the group’s identity. He claims, “it’s such an important instrument in traditional Zimbabwean music, and during the African diaspora, it was introduced to countries like Columbia and Guatemala during the slave trade. It remains extremely popular in both African and Latin American music.” The crowd in the music bowl

started out with a small group of faculty and students, but within a few minutes of the group’s performance, the infectious, energetic spirit of their music drew an impressive crowd that had the music bowl overflowing. With every new song, the group educated the crowd about the cultural significance of their lyrics and instruments, leaving the audience with a new understanding of African and Latin cultures that are seldom discussed. In an interview with The Bottom Line, second year communications and geography major Melissa Lindberg said, “I really appreciated the chance to see a new type of music here on campus. Most of the time I feel like we only get the chance to see what’s considered to be ‘classical’ music, and I think it’s important that we get the chance to hear music from other cultures that

don’t get as much representation.” The extremely positive reception this group received shows that students are eager to see more diverse representation in UCSB’s musical performances through programs like the World Music Series. The next show will be today, April 17, featuring Rumba, Bolero, Cumbia, and more with Ensamble Vientos Del Sur. Photos by Docean Park | Web Editor

As a part of the World Music Series, Masanga Marimba performed last Wednesday in the UCSB Music Bowl. Led by CSUN professor Ric Alviso, the ensemble featured seven Zimbabwean marimbas accompanied by vocals, drums, percussion, saxophone, and

trumpet. Their upbeat, danceable music on a sunlit afternoon persuaded passersby to stay and try out the variously sized marimbas.

4 1 Joel Mankey dazzles the crowd with a rhythmically complex solo. 2 Mon-

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ica Bowser powerfully commands the largest marimba from the back. 3 Alviso encourages everyone to participate by clapping along to the music.. 4 Masanga Marimba delivered a lively performance last Wednesday in the UCSB Music Bowl.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7

A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS WITH THE SANTA BARBARA ASTROMINCAL UNIT JESSICA GANG | Opinions Editor

SBCC students visiting for their astronomy course had an opportunity to explore outer space for extra credit points. Students had a wonderful time learning new information about the last frontier with the help of volunteers from the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

This 20-inch RCOS Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope was the star of the show. Located within the Ash-Dome, the viewing opening rotates a full 360 degrees to allow access to any part of the night sky. It truly is a spectacle to behold, and watching operators maneuver the telescope to target specific stars was even more interesting. Photos by Samuel Yang | Staff Photographer

ast Saturday, April 13, the night sky twinkled a little brighter as the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History hosted its monthly Star Party at the Palmer Observatory. Star Parties, which are held at the museum on the second Saturday of every month during the year, are designed to help the Santa Barbara community learn more about outer space. At every Star Party, the museum allows the public to use private telescopes (including the 20-inch state-of-the-art telescope at the Palmer Observatory) while astronomers from the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit (SBAU) share cosmic knowledge and answer questions. Starting around 8 p.m. on Saturday, museum patrons of all ages milled on the grassy lawns and the stone paths adjacent to

8 | SCIENCE & TECH

the Palmer Observatory and the MacVeagh House, traversing between various telescope stations. Each station was manned by a member of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, a club made up of astronomy lovers dedicated to serving the Santa Barbara community. The motto of the Astronomical Unit is “A Local Gateway to the Stars Above,” and true to its word, the mission of the Astronomical Unit is to help the Santa Barbara community learn about astronomy through a series of outreach programs at local schools, workshops (such as the Telescope Workshop, where you can make your own telescope), monthly meetings, talks with local astronomy experts, and much more. In an interview with The Bottom Line, volunteer Pat McPar-

tlin described the significance of the Star Party, noting that her favorite part of the night is always “sharing the sky with [event attendees].” McPartlin has been part of the Astronomical Unit for 34 years and counting and described the club’s members as a bunch of “enthusiasts,” whose purpose is to “give astronomy information to anyone who wants to listen”. Sean Kelly, SBAU member and astronomy professor at Santa Barbara City College, expressed similar sentiments in another interview with TBL. Kelly invites his students to every Star Party, giving them “a chance to experience ... the stars in a concrete way.” Kelly added that it is always “wonderful to have people who have never looked through a telescope have that opportunity, [and to] be able to share that with

them.” While the astronomical unit primarily consists of “retired engineers and scientists,” according to Kelly, event attendees ranged from toddlers to college students, mainly from Westmont College, UCSB, and SB City College. Attendees moved from station to station, all of which were manned by members of the Astronomical Unit, who used laser pointers to show astronomical bodies — like the Orion Belt, the Little Dipper, and the Andromeda Nebula — to the untrained eye. In an interview with TBL, SBCC student Anna Hernandez described how the astronomy class she’s taking at SBCC has enhanced her appreciation for Star Parties and other astronomical events, saying that while she “has seen most of the [astronomical events] shown in lab,” SBCC

students learn in lab many of the practical skills that members of the astronomical unit display to the public during public exhibitions, like using telescopes and searching for stars. In spite of the cosmic nature of the Star Party, it’s heartening to know that for the volunteers involved, the most awe-inspiring part of the night is its focus on the Santa Barbara community. When asked what he hopes onlookers will take from their experience, Professor Kelly stated that he hopes his audience simply sees “something beautiful,” before adding that it is worth [taking] a few minutes out of our busy lives to ... [have] a moment of peace and reflection” about the enormity of the world that we inhabit.

Approaching Zero Waste: How Composting Can Accelerate Green Progress ANNETTE DING | Co-News Editor Last Saturday at noon, the A.S. Department of Public Worms (DPW) and the Santa Barbara County Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division (RRWMD) hosted their annual composting workshop outside the Isla Vista Co-op. Open to the public, the workshop was lead by Country Compost Specialist and UCSB alumni Sam Dickinson, DPW Outreach Student Coordinator Rachel Dice, and DPW Worm Wrangler Margot Mason, as part of a wider effort to reach UCSB’s goal to achieve Zero Waste by 2020. This mission also aligns with the state of California’s commitment to composting and recycling 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020.

WHY COMPOST According to the RRWMD, organics comprise 37 percent of Santa Barbara’s wastestream. Of that 37 percent Dickinson estimates 20 percent to be food waste, all of which ends up buried in landfills. “A lot of people think that there’s some magical machine that’s pulling out all the good stuff that shouldn’t be thrown in the trash, that’s not happening,” said Dickinson. When food scraps are buried in landfills, everything gets pressed down, pushing out the oxygen. According to Dickinson, “A landfill is an anaerobic environment — that means without oxygen. When you have organics in an anaerobic environment that removes oxygen, there’s this special kind of bacteria that starts making methane gas … This doesn’t happen in backyard composting as there is oxygen present.” Methane gas is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of global climate change. Referencing Santa Barbara’s Tajiguas landfill as an example, Dickinson stated, “All the methane that is escaping out of the landfill is equivalent to 20,000 cars on the road every single year…And there are landfills everywhere.” While Santa Barbara County does have numerous industrial composting facilities, the city itself does not have one near it. Thus, its truckloads of heavy food scraps are driven 45 miles away to the Agromin facilities in Oxnard and UCSB’s are sent to San Maria-based Engel & Gray, about 67 miles away. “How sustainable does that sound?” asked Dickinson. On the bright side, Dickinson announced that an industrial composting facility is currently under construction at Taijguas landfill and will be operational by 2021. In the meantime, composting at home, or on-site composting, is a relatively easy and effective way for local residents and UCSB students to divert food waste away from landfills or long gas-guzzling truck drives. When it comes to on-site composting there are two options: aerobic composting or vermicomposting.

Sam Dickinson, an SB County Compost Specialist, informs I.V. residents about the benefits of composting. Photo by Juan Gonzalez | Photo Editor

AEROBIC COMPOSTING Aerobic composting, also known as hot composting, is the more space-intensive of the two options. Aerobic composting systems needs outdoor space, ideally a yard, to accommodate a large pile or bin, which should be about three by three feet large, according to Dickinson. The circulation of oxygen is crucial in creating prime living conditions for what the RRWD has termed the “FBI”: fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates. These microbes are what will break down the food scraps and yard waste into compost. Summing it all up, Dickinson concluded, “So, food scraps with yard waste, keeping it moist, and turning it. In about three months you’ll get compost. It’s really that simple.”

VERMICOMPOSTING Another odorless option is vermicomposting, or worm composting. This type of composting uses worms instead of microbes to consume organic waste and needs little space, a popular choice for apartment residents. Compared to aerobic composting, vermicomposting produces richer soil amendments in the form of worm castings or “worm poop.” “By far the best quality compost you’ll ever get,” said Dickinson. It’s important to note that vermicomposting doesn’t use just any kind of worms. The DPW website states that Red Wiggler worms or Einsenia fetida, are “considered the standard for vermicomposting because they can tolerate a wider range of conditions while still being extremely productive.” Unlike most worms, Red Wigglers don’t burrow into the soil but instead prefer wiggling around in organic materials. In terms of sources of nitrogen or organic material, vermicomposting is similar to aerobic composting (carbons should still be covering nitrogens) but with a few restrictions due to the more delicate constitution of the worms. Egg shells, coffee grounds, and most fruits and vegetable scraps are still appropriate. After four to six months, your worm castings will be ready for harvest. A week leading up to the harvest, Dickison suggested placing food scraps in one side of the bin, tricking the worms to migrate and clearing the area for you to collect their worm castings without having to sort through a tangle of wiggling worms.

For a step-by-step guide on each form of composting, visit TBL's website for an extended version of this article.

SCIENCE & TECH | 9

Getting to Know Your Neighbor ur

jo Bon

Nihao Hej

Jambo

Ciao

Guten Ta

HoLa

Marhaba

The Truth About Being a Chinese International Student

Daniel Gao (De Gao) is an international student majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Education and Applied Psychology. His hometown is Shannxi, which is also the home of the Terracotta Army.

ccording to the 2018– 2019 UCSB Campus Profile, within the international student population of the whole campus, 73 percent of international students come from mainland China. However, a number of students do not completely understand Chinese international students or even have a sense of who they actually are. In the past two years, I have heard many ways that others describe us. “They are just a bunch of rich kids trying to get an American diploma” and “They got money, why do they care about school?” And last quarter, I even heard a group of people saying, “They are like giant babies.” Stereotypes and biases are like ropes that tie up all Chinese students.

10 | OPINIONS

Nevertheless, being a Chinese international student myself, I would like others to hear our side of the story. Let me describe what it is like to be an international student who is studying abroad. In WeChat (a Chinese social media platform), there is a popular network quote: “The color of the outside is the darkest of the day; it feels like all the lights no longer excite. However, in this dark, we are still awake." This expresses daily life for most of us. Unlike what others say about us, we come to the United States to study because we have a dream. We try our best to work hard because we know that we need to

DANIEL GAO

put in more effort than our American counterparts. We know that our English is not perfect. Thus, we need to try even harder than others. Back home, before studying abroad, after 12 (a.m.) meant saying good night to family and friends. Now, while we are here, 12 is nothing but a number. We always stay awake until two or three in the morning, studying and trying to make ourselves better. We care about many things. We don’t like to share because we are afraid that our parents would hear everything that we have been through and would start worrying about us. Our home is over 6,000 miles away. Every time we talk with our parents through videos calls or just a phone call, we want

to show our best to them. We want them to know that they have nothing to worry about. We also care about the future. Studying abroad isn’t cheap. We hope every cent that we spend here in the U.S. is worth it. People sometimes might only see things on the outside, like the way we dress; however, they have never seen the tears and the sweat and the loneliness that we carry. Most international students would love to make friends, and we hope we can build bonds with others. We like to talk about ourselves and share our traditional cultures with others. We also like to eat (maybe not every food here but we would love to try all of them). We also sing and dance. Perhaps we are hindered by our

Chinese accents, but nonetheless, music allows us all to have fun together. We are just like others. There is nothing that can separate students who are all here to learn. More importantly, we should not have invisible walls between us that keep us apart; instead, let’s try to know each other a little better. After that, we will see each other in a new light. We are in UC Santa Barbara. We have brilliant sunshine, a boundless ocean, and fascinating beaches. So let’s put aside the judgment and prejudice and enjoy our time together. Illustration by Alyssa Long | The Bottom Line

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MINOR NOE PADILLA | Staff Writer

hen I was first applying to universities, the only school I wanted to go to was UCSB, and it was because of their environmental studies program. At the time I believed it was the best school for the subject, and even now it constantly ranks relatively high amongst universities, based on global rankings. UCSB was one of the first schools to ever have an environmental studies department, and it’s been a leader within the environmental field ever since. Based on stats from the department’s website, the program has over 7,300 alumni and more than 850 students enrolled. It states that the department was established 49 years ago as a response to the oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I instead went to community college. While there, I realized I wanted to go into environmental law. When I finally transferred to UCSB with the intent to minor in environmental studies, to my surprise I found that the department didn’t offer a minor. Instead, the department tries to create well-rounded stewards who will be able to deal with environmental issues in a broad range of disciplines. The department is arranged so that students of the major have a

core focus in environmental stud- when she transferred to UCSB ies, but are also able to obtain a from her community college, she secondary focus from any oth- was hoping that the school would er field of study. So if a student offer a minor in the subject. wanted to become a lobbyist for “I want to get more environmental issues for example, informed about envithat student would be able to get ronmental issues,” said a secondary focus in political sciMedina. “It’s currently one ence to help with this goal. of the biggest issues of our I find this ideology respectable, generation … If the school but this lack of a minor seems a bit offered a minor, I would puzzling, especially in the modern do it immediately,” Mediera. Environmental issues can’t be na went on to say. solved by the few anymore; they’re Although this ideology of the issues that can only be solved by department is respectable, perhaps an educated population. in the modern era, the department It’s at the point that the whole needs to broaden its goal beyond countries would need to take creating “environmental stewaction to try and minimize the ards.” If the department created a problem. Based on data from the minor it would allow for students Environmental Protection Agency of other majors, to pick up envi(EPA), 82 percent of greenhouse ronmental studies as their secondgases are caused by carbon diox- ary focus. Although it’s not the ide emissions. The EPA states that same plan, it holds the same goal: “human activities are altering the to create environmental leaders. carbon cycle,” which are primariJeff Kuyper is an alumnus ly caused by “transportation” and from UCSB who majored in en“electricity,” which still heavily vironmental studies. He was one relies on fossil fuels to create ener- of the original founders of the Los gy. This reliance on fossil fuel can Padres ForestWatch non-profit only be solved if the citizens of a organization. The organization’s country actively altered their per- goal is to restore and protect the ception on the issue. forest condition of the Los Padres I’ve talked to other students National Forest. He’s an example about this issue, and to my sur- of how UCSB can create great prise many held a similar opin- leaders who will champion enviPREPARING FOR A CAREER IN ion on the matter. OneHEALTH student CARE? ronmental issues. Join our Summer was Jazmin Medina, a third yearHealth Scholar Other and good examples of these Programs to gain firsthand experience sociology major. In an interview kinds of leader can be found in the in a clinical setting, impact patients’ lives and an integralGraciela part of the with TBL, Medina stated thatbecome organization. Cabello is

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the director of youth and community engagement for the organization. Unlike Kuyper, Cabello majored in business administration while in college, but she still has a passion for protecting our public lands. She’s also an example of individuals who study other subjects yet still have a passion for solving these environmental issues. Perhaps now is the time that UCSB help creates leaders in other disciplines who are environmentally informed. If there’s demand from students and students who desire to become stewards, UCSB has a duty to its students to offer a minor. If the department were to create a minor, they could model it in a similar manner to UCLA’s environmental systems and society minor. UCLA has a minimum requirement of eight lower division units, and a minimum of 20 upper-division units in order to receive the minor. This is one of UCLA’s seven minors, the others being atmospheric and oceanic sciences; environmental engineering; earth and environmental science; conservation biology; environmental health; and geography/ environmental studies. If UCSB were to create a minor for environmental studies, it would hold to the same philosophy as the major, this idea of creating great leaders. So perhaps what

UCSB could do is hold the same standard for the lower-division units, but once students started working on their upper-division units that’s when the focus could come into play. There could be different focuses within the minor; one could focus on public policy and the others focusing on a specific science within the field. Furthermore, introducing a minor for environmental studies would also be a great way to celebrate the departments 50 year anniversary. If the younger generation has a desire to resolve the issue, then the people who can empower the younger generation ought to support that desire. And I think a quote from the department says it best, “Responsible stewardship of our environment will require leaders that understand and respect human values and goals, and the relationship between natural and human communities.” Illustration by Mable Truong | Managing Editor

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OPINIONS | 11

Pride Photos by SAMUEL YANG | Staff Photographer

Drag Show

The drag show, held for Pride Week, was truly a special event. Featuring big names such as Tatianna from RuPaul's Drag Race and Aja, drag queens and kings performed on stage to strut their stuff. The diversity of performances reflected everyone's individuality, Some danced to Marina And The Diamonds' "Primadonna" with power and poise, whiled others dashed around the stage to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." The show kept audience members on the edge of their seats, and left them stunned at the sheer talent shown on stage. With Campbell Hall filled to full capacity, ear-splitting cheers thundered when one queen, Rogue, backflipped her way into the hearts of the audience. This show was an incredibly breathtaking spectacle from start to finish, a real testament to the bravery and talents of UCSB's community.

Penile Fauna ran into the crowd dressed as Freddy Mercury while lip syncing to "Don't Stop My Now." Upon climbing back on stage, he stripped off his tank top to reveal the words "bottom" written across his chest and emphasized the climax of the song, using the confetti cannon in his hand.

Students in the audience eagerly handed out dollar bills to the kings and queens who walked into the aisles of the auditorium. Here, surrounded by the money, Tatianna emits an aura of power.

Wrapping up a night of powerful performances, Aja served an incredible performance of her own alongside her best friend and hype man. Anime AMV videos playing in the background and an incredible hip-hop artist in the front created an unforgettable experience and a wonderful way to end the night.

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