Winter 2020, Issue 2 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

JANUARY 29, 2020

VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XI

Dear

KOBE, FEATURES

PAGE 5

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Immigrant Resilience Week In honor of UCSB's 5th annual Immigrant Resilience Week, The Bottom Line sat down with Rubalcava, an undocumented student, to talk about the unique struggles she faced as an undocumented immigrant attending UCSB. FEATURES | PAGE 4

The Dumpling King On January 19, UCSB's student-produced film The Dumpling King, was screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival as part of a series of documentary shorts. A&E | PAGE 7

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Graduate Students

Sickout in support of COLA NOE PADILLA | News Editor

ast Wednesday, U.C. Santa Barbara (UCSB) graduate students gathered in a sickout demonstration in which they all called off work sick in order to march in solidarity with their fellow graduates at U.C. Santa Cruz (UCSC). Earlier that day, UCSC graduates had traveled to the Jan. 23 U.C. Regents meeting in hopes of advocating for their cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) movement. The COLA movement was created last September when UCSC graduates organized with union leaders to create a list of demands for U.C. leaders in hopes of bettering their living conditions. Based on self-reported polls, most UCSB and UCSC graduates are currently living with rent burden. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines cost burden as a situation in which individuals "pay more than 30 percent of

2 | NEWS

their income for housing,” and severe rent burden as a situation in which individuals "pay more than 50 percent of one’s income on rent." In an interview with The Bottom Line (TBL), Sheila, one of the organizers of the sickout and a Ph.D student in the chemistry department (who wished to remain partially anonymous) explained why the UCSB graduates joined in the COLA movement. “COLA stands for cost-of-living adjustment, and it would be a sum of money disbursed every month on top of regular salary pay,” said Sheila. “At UCSC they came up with a number of 1,412 dollars to bring their rent burden down from around 70 or 80 percent, lower to 35 or 40 percent.” However, these numbers wouldn’t be the same for UCSB graduate students, Sheila explained. Graduate student participated in a self-reported survey,

with around 600 graduate students respondents. Sheila noted that the survey showed that the average graduate student spends about 48 percent of their monthly salary on rent. In a post on the “UCSB 4 COLA” facebook page, the group states that they would need to receive an additional $1,133.57 to rid themselves of rent burden. Sheila also emphasizes that the demonstration was not a strike; it was specifically a sickout. They explained that every graduate student has two guaranteed sick days, and that the sickout was a way to show support for the UCSC students at the U.C. Regents meeting, while also getting the word out about their concerns as well. Allene (who wished to be referred to by only her first name), a Ph.D candidate in the classics department at UCSB, explained how the rent burden has affected

her while in school. “Almost all of us are constantly on the edge financially. For example this past October I had some unforeseen expenses and had 38 cents in my bank account for half of October and only 20 dollars cash,” said Allene. “With our pay as it stands right now, it’s really difficult to save, it’s difficult to have a standard living, and I don’t mean living luxuriously — I mean to be able to afford basic expenses.” Although these stories are just now being reported on for graduate students at UCSB, back at UCSC, graduate students have been fighting for the COLA movement since September of last year. Over the past few months, the UCSC graduate students have been holding demonstrations in hopes of getting their concerns answered by administrators, but on Dec. 8, their movement hit its crescendo when

students began to strike. The students held back from submitting fall grades until their concerns were addressed by U.C. leaders. On their website, UCSC graduates explain that the holding of grades will not hurt students, but is necessary for them to be heard. In an interview with TBL, Charles Perkins, a Ph.D candidate in the philosophy department, explained that the COLA movement doesn’t want to “burden” undergraduates by having them pay for graduate students’ pay increase. The graduate students understand the weight many undergraduates have to carry because of student loans, and they wouldn’t want to add to that, Perkins stated. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

Governor Newsom tackles the

HOMELESS CRISIS JADE MARTINEZ-POGUE | National Beat Reporter

n Jan. 10, Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposal for California’s 2020-2021 budget plan. Of the many things Newsom allocated money to, including addressing the healthcare affordability crisis and education expenditures, one of the most prominent points of the plan was the over one billion dollars set aside to combat the homelessness crisis in California. As of January 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that California had nearly 130,000 homeless civilians, making California the state with the largest population of homeless people. A 2019 report released by HUD stated that the rest of the country actually saw a decrease in homelessness, but the chronic rate of homelessness in the west — specifically California and Oregon — offset the nation wide decrease. The budget allocates $750 million to a new California Access to Housing and Services Fund to address behavioral health needs that contribute to street

homelessness. The Department of Social Services (DSS) will also be awarding funding to eligible counties to assist in reducing family homelessness. Together, the DSS and the new service fund will aim at paying rent for individuals facing homelessness, add more dwelling units to certain regions, and help stabilize board and care facilities. The money will go directly to homeless service providers. Part of Newsom’s proposed plan included an executive order requiring state agencies to take immediate action by the end of the month. They will make available a supply of 100 trailers that can be converted into temporary housing, effective immediately. He will also send out mobile health and social service clinics that homeless people would otherwise not have access to. The executive order requires state and local governments to develop accountability metrics and release progress updates to ensure that progress is being made. Along with actions to reduce homelessness, Newsom called on the California Health and Hu-

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man Services Agency to conduct a comprehensive study to unveil the root causes of homelessness and understand the situation in more depth. Newsom himself has also set out on a week-long homelessness tour, visiting different counties to analyze their homeless population. In this tour he has visited homeless facilities, talked to board members of those facilities, and participated in homelessness outreach. Homelessness is a problem that California has been tackling for years. Newsom signed 13 bills into law just in September of last year to combat the crisis. Newsom also called on the Trump administration for help and requested 50,000 additional Housing Choice and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers. In the spin room at the Dec. 19 democratic debate, Governor Newsom slammed the Trump Administration for not taking the right steps to help fight this problem. “Housing and supportive services help solve homelessness. Housing first,” Newsom said. “There is a new director on the

Interagency Council of Homelessness in the United States, appointed by Donald Trump, that says housing fourth. They’re not serious about this issue.” Often butting heads with Democrat Newsom, the president blamed the homelessness "epidemic" on the democratic leaders of the state and did not look to other causes. In a tweet on Christmas of 2019, Trump wrote, “Governor Gavin N has done a really bad job on taking care of the homeless population in California.” He also took a stab at Democratic speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, on Twitter the following day. “Nancy Pelosi’s District in California has rapidly become one of the worst anywhere in the U.S. when it come(s) to the homeless &

crime. It has gotten so bad, so fast,” he tweeted. “She has lost total control and, along with her equally incompetent governor, Gavin Newsom, it is a very sad sight!” Whoever or whatever is to blame for the vastly spreading homeless crisis, California is increasing effort to combat the issue. A January 2019 survey found that California’s homeless population grew by about 21,000 people, creating an increase of more than 16 percent. “We have a crisis on our hands — and it must be addressed,” Newsom tweeted back in July. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

Opinions expressed in TBL do not necessarily represent those of the staff or UCSB. All submissions, questions or comments may be directed to editors@bottomlineucsb.com

Layout Editor | Melody Li Pages 13, 14, 15, 16 Layout Editor | Amanda Wang Pages 9, 10, 11, 12 Layout Editor | Christine Ho Pages 5, 6, 7, 8 Social Media Coordinator | Esther Liu

Marketing Director | Jonathan Chavez Advertising Director | Madeleine Korn Web Editor | Annie Huang Comic Artist | Jake Ortega

NEWS | 3

Immigrant RESILIENCE Week:

Th e S t r u g g l e s o f UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS EDWARD COLMENARES | Isla Vista Beat Reporter

In honor of U.C. Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) fifth annual Immigrant Resilience Week, The Bottom Line sat down with undocumented student Rubalcava, who chose to remain partially anonymous, about the unique challenges she has faced as an undocumented student at UCSB.

ubalcava remembers her days as a first year as particularly difficult due to the election of Donald Trump during winter quarter. So many of her peers supported Trump’s immigration policies which were aimed at removing Rubalcava from the country. Specifically, she remembers a hallmate of hers cheerfully running down the halls chanting “Donald Trump … Donald Trump.” This same hallmate somehow also found out about Rubalcava’s legal status and directly confronted her, claiming: “I don’t have anything against you personally. You just shouldn't have immigrated here illegally.” Stories like hers relate to the 4,000 undocumented students enrolled in one of the ten U.C. campuses. UCSB’s fifth annual Immigrant Resilience Week, previously known as Immigrant Awareness Week, took place last week to bring recognition to the adversities facing undocumented university students such as Rubalcava. Events held included

4 | FEATURES

a thorough seminar on policies affecting immigrant communities, a lecture with the Latina filmmaker Anayansi Prado, and a screening of her revealing documentary, "The Unafraid." The film and lecture drew on the overwhelming obstacles undocumented students face in simply remaining enrolled at universities. When asked for her advice on these struggles, Prado, a onceundocumented student herself, said, “Form community and come together … hold each other in space. When one is down the other one holds you up, and then you all get up again.” Rubalcava, an English major, was brought to the United States at six months old from Jalisco, Mexico. Throughout high school her advisors could only offer minimal support and failed to appropriately help Rubalcava in applying for federal financial aid. Although living in California for virtually her entire life, she was charged with full out-of-state tuition. The only financial aid Rubalcava currently receives are scholarships sponsored by UCSB, but even obtaining such scholarships was tremendously difficult as she had to “basically beg the school” to waive her out-of-state tuition and offer her financial aid. Although UCSB eventually waived her tuition, eviction notices would be placed on her dorm door promptly asking her

to leave. Rubalcava believes that UCSB in general tries to be inclusive and that the majority of the students are nice and welcoming. Nonetheless, she revealed that she often feels anxious and isolated. “Every time there is talk about DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] … it starts to give me a lot of anxiety and it starts to get hard to focus on school,” Rubalcava described. “My future is in jeopardy. Sometimes it gets kind of depressing … If I do get kicked out of the country, all of this was for nothing, going to school and putting all this effort.” “It feels like I can’t really be myself or talk to other people about what I’m going through because no one really understands.”

The Dream Act, a legislative proposal which would grant residency to certain students who entered the country as minors, has not been passed by Congress. DACA work permits are currently only available to recipients who were part of the program before late 2018, when president Trump nulled the policy. Free legal services and advice are provided by Undocumented Student Services (USS) to undocumented students and their immediate families at UCSB. In an interview with The Bottom Line, USS director Diana Ordorica, described Immigrant Resilience Week as an event which “raises awareness for ... different experiences that the immigrant communities might have.” Ordorica added: “If there’s a

desire to wanna find community, we and other folks … provide that community and that support.” She encourages immigrants to “seek for help, even though that can sometimes be hard.” Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

hat does it mean to inspire? Kobe Bryant’s ability to fill so many with the conviction to chase their loftiest aspirations and become the best versions of themselves was unprecedented. This attitude, dubbed by Bryant as the “Mamba Mentality,” extended far beyond his countless hours spent within the Staples Center in the heart of Los Angeles. Bryant’s emphatic successes on the court and his philanthropic endeavors off the court cemented his presence in the eyes of many as a hero, role model, and icon. In 2016, Bryant closed the book on his 20-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career, ready to move into a new chapter of his life as an author, business owner, and father of four children. On the morning of Jan. 26, Bryant died in a helicopter crash. Across the country, people gathered to mourn the loss of a legendary athlete and public figure. On Sunday evening, hundreds of U.C. Santa Barbara (UCSB) students gathered at Storke Tower to pay respects, share memories, and partake in a moment of silence at 8:24 p.m., honoring the two numbers Bryant wore in his NBA career. Kobe Bryant had a closer connection to the UCSB and Santa Barbara community than many might think. For eight years, Bryant held his Kobe Academy basketball camps on UCSB’s campus, coaching youth aged 8 to 18 about basketball. He used this platform not only to share his extensive knowledge in the game of basketball, but also to enable the next generation to discover what they were passionate about and pursue it. Bryant also took opportunities to give back to UCSB students, even engaging in an interview conversation with Jon Spaventa, former chair of the exercise and sport studies department, during two of the depart-

ment’s 2011 class meetings. As seen in a video shown by Spaventa to students in his class, Bryant graciously answered audience questions for over an hour, providing young undergraduate students with an unparalleled perspective on his personal life and professional career. Upon being gifted some Gaucho apparel, Bryant held up his new UCSB hooded sweater. “You guys don’t believe me, but I’m gonna rock this,” Bryant said. The wound from this unspeakable tragedy cuts a little deeper for the city of Los Angeles. A place Bryant called home throughout 20 career years of highs and lows must now cope with losing a community leader that united every diverse subsection of the sprawling urban landscape. Ash Ghiassi, a fourth-year UCSB student, grew up in Los Angeles as one of the many local kids who witnessed Bryant’s exceptional tenure in the purple and gold. For Ghiassi, Kobe Bryant of the Lakers was synonymous with the entire sport of basketball. "I remember when I first got a computer, I had watched YouTube videos and eventually edited my own Kobe highlight reel. I must've been 10 or 11 years old," Ghiassi recalled in an interview with The Bottom Line. A piece of Bryant’s contagious enthusiasm and vitality lived in every resident who revered his achievements. The Mamba’s relentless approach to the challenges dealt out by life made some of the personal obstacles in our lives seem not quite as insurmountable as one may initially think. Although Bryant won’t be here to witness the innumerable accolades, Hall of Fame inductions, and biopics dedicated to his life and career, his incredible achievements and preachings will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and non-athletes alike. Photo Courtesy of Michael Owen Baker

In Remembrance of

KOBE BRYANT GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor

FEATURES | 5

A L

SHOWCASES JEWISH CULTURE

N K

MUSIC BOWL

RICHARD SMITH | Contributing Writer

lezmer and Balkan music group Kalinka gave a virtuosic performance of unique music in the U.C. Santa Barbara (UCSB) Music Bowl on Wednesday as part of the World Music Series, a musical event series put on by the UCSB MultiCultural Center and the ethnomusicology program of the department of music. The band is comprised of musicians Fred Nadis on clarinet, Eric Ederer on acoustic guitar, Beznik Yzeiri on violin, and Andrew Fedders on bass. Despite being part of the World Music Series, the musical genre klezmer did not originate from one singular region. It is a form of Jewish music that flourishes wherever there are prominent Jewish communities, so its sound draws heavy influence from all over the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. As for its usual setting, klezmer most often is performed at weddings and other similar events. Kalinka performed for students of all ages and backgrounds on a beautifully clear day at the UCSB Music Bowl, a small outdoor music venue. The audience was languid and pleasant; they quietly listened and saved applause for when the music ended. The music being played by Kalinka was unlike any other music that is often heard on the

radio or the Internet. They started with some slower tunes which juxtaposed a bouncy, swing-like rhythm from the bass and guitar with an oddly exotic and regal melody from the violin and clarinet. The faster pieces kept the same dynamic but were played with an even more distant marriage between rhythm and melody. The fast pieces had the bass and guitar be relentlessly jovial and danceable while the clarinet and violin would double up on an even more mind-boggling melody. The melody alone might strike one as sounding rather Middle Eastern and modal, as it often has an emotional complexity that Western ears might not be prepared to process. Likewise, the rhythm section stripped of the melody might find itself at home in a jazz piece or perhaps even American folk. Combined, however, the music that makes up klezmer is wholly unique and cannot be supplemented by any other type of music. The driving and forceful rhythm keeps the pensive melody from dwelling too intensely in deep sorrow, giving the music a refreshing sense of dutiful sorrow contrasted with festivity. This concert peaked

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with a piece called “Sirtaki.” According to violinist Beznik Yzeiri, it was a piece put together using multiple themes with Greek influence and style. This was a fiery performance in which Beznik proved himself a true virtuoso violinist. The song began with a mischievous melody from Fred Nadis’s clarinet, which was soon matched by the violin. The violin and clarinet combo had a triumphantly clear texture, but this melody was soon overtaken by a fierce violin solo. Rife with tempo changes, double stops, pizzicato, trill, and tremolo techniques, the solo stole the show for quite some time. The

skillful performance sacrificed no emotional beauty for its virtuosity, as the aforementioned emotional themes were at their strongest in this piece. The solo ended with the clarinet joining the violin in an overwhelming and intertwining polyphony, soon transitioning into a coda and ending the beautiful piece. The audience obviously felt the same as me, as someone even gave the band a tip when the song ended. This beautiful performance fit well with the skills that past performers have displayed for the World Music Series. All people and students who are interested in world cultures and music will

be doing themselves a favor by attending this series every Wednesday this quarter, so please look forward to future performances! Photo Courtesy of UCSB

"THE DUMPLING KING"

A Heartwarming UCSB Student Film CHRISTINE HO | Layout Editor

t 5 p.m. on Jan. 19, The Arlington Theatre played a series of short documentaries as a part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Most of these short films were created by Santa Barbara locals as a way to spread awareness about local issues or put a spotlight on other Santa Barbara residents. One of the films that were featured was written, directed, produced, and edited by fourth-year U.C. Santa Barbara student Zizheng (Boris) Liu. "The Dumpling King" centers around Wang, the owner of the Chinese restaurant Dumpling King in Isla Vista. In an introduction to his film, Zizheng (Boris) explained to his audience the significance of dumplings in Chinese culture. According to him, dumplings represent the reunion between family and loved ones, something he hopes the audience will cherish in their daily lives. In an interview with The Bottom Line, Liu explains that he wanted to capture the displacement he has experienced as an international student from China. “Being an international student from Beijing China, being far away from home, loneliness is a frequent visitor and I related to Wang. In my opinion, this loneliness is also closely tied to one’s

culture or identity and that may stimulate one’s urge to join or create a home-like place.” The film smoothly transitions between shots of Wang fishing alone at the Santa Barbara Harbor and him making dumplings back at his restaurant. The gloomy background containing

each dumpling, making sure each one is filled and properly folded. Again, he is alone in the scene and the only thing shown to the audience are his two hands making the dumplings. In these earlier scenes, the film is predominantly silent, with no dialogue but only the sounds

which is this feeling of loneliness, waiting, and Wang’s perseverance.” As the documentary progresses, customers begin to fill the Dumpling King restaurant, with groups of friends and family happily conversing and bonding over plates of dumplings. Wang is

To close off the film, Wang shares some advice with his audience. He reinforces the importance of perseverance and advises them that “the things that your family gives you are limited, but the things that you earn for yourself are never going to run out.” These words were spoken in Mandarin Chinese, Wang’s native language, and reinforced Wang’s role in the lives of Chinese students in Isla Vista as both a friend and a mentor. Filmmaker Zizheng (Boris), his friends, and the main subject Wang all attended the event. After the screening, the large group walked out of the theater together. The college students all expressed excitement for the reopening of Dumpling King after a short break and anticipation for the meals Wang will cook up for Chinese New Year. As everyone exited the theater, the group’s cheerful chatter and laughter perfectly echoed the sentiment of family and reunion that Liu captured in his film, emphasizing the heartwarming message behind it.

vast waters against the silhouette of Wang’s figure on a boat highlights the feeling of loneliness that Liu aims to convey. In the scenes that take place in the restaurant, Wang carefully wraps

of waves crashing against Wang’s boat. Liu tells The Bottom Line that this decision was made because “the audience will engage themselves in the images and the feelings I am trying to deliver

friendly and makes sure to check in and chat with his customers. The increase in pace and volume demonstrate to the audience the welcoming atmosphere that the restaurant has for its patrons.

Photo by Graeme Jackson | Photo Editor Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7

The Phenomenon of

DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES in California JESSICA GANG | Executive Content Editor

he fall months of September to December are typically considered “peak” months of California’s annual fire season. For the past few years, however, California has seen a general trend of increasingly destructive fires, exacerbated by the effects of Earth’s rapidly changing climate. Naturally-occurring wildfires typically spark during periods of extreme drought and dry weather. These dry conditions, coupled with strong winds, natural kindling (usually found in the form of dried up vegetation), and a spark — a fallen power line; a forgotten cigarette or campfire — can be a deadly combination. Because wildfire season is an unfortunate reality of life for California residents, its effects can be felt everywhere, including on this very campus. U.C. Santa Barbara (UCSB), along with the other University of California schools, is no stranger to the dangers that quickly spreading wildfires can pose to a campus community. In recent years, UCSB has been directly affected by fast-spreading, intensely destructive fires. In the fall of 2017, fall quarter finals were cancelled as the Thomas Fire raged in Santa Barbara and the neighboring area of Ventura County. Many faculty members, staff members, and students were forced to temporarily evacuate their homes to escape the fast-moving blaze. The fire, which is one of California’s largest

8 | SCIENCE & TECH

on record, ended up destroying over 1,000 structures. The next year, heavy rains displaced previously destabilized areas of burned land in Montecito, which resulted in disastrous mudslides that killed 23 people, destroyed 130 homes, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Finally, in the fall of 2019, the Cave Fire raged in parts of Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara County, forcing administrators at UCSB and neighboring school Santa Barbara City College to cancel classes during the week before Thanksgiving Break. Once a wildfire has been ignited, three conditions must be fulfilled to allow the fire to continue burning and growing in size. Called the “fire triangle” by firefighters, the three conditions are ”fuel, a heat source, and air.” California, famous for its dry Santa Ana winds, serves as a uniquely suitable environment that allows wildfires to grow. Dryness in drought-prone areas like Australia and California have caused vegetation and soil to dry up in record numbers as the result of the rapidly changing global climate. According to Yale Climate Connections, California experienced an extreme case of “weather whiplash,” going from a record-breaking drought in 20122016 to a wet, rainy season in 2017-2018. The combination of drought followed by rain contributed to the growth of new plant life that was subsequently dried

up by record-breaking heat levels, contributing to California’s intensely destructive 2018 fire season. The undeniable danger that wildfires pose in California has led scientists at UCSB to take a more hands-on approach towards explaining unpredictable weather phenomena. For example, researchers at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science and the National Center for Atmospheric Research are exploring the possible effects of climate change on the major weather pattern El Nino, and how those effects could possibly impact the frequency and severity of future wildfires in California. Their findings, published in a study called “ENSO’s Changing Influence on Temperature, Precipitation and Wildfire in a Warming Climate,” could have “implications on land use and on wildfire fighting and prevention strategies at urban/wildland interfaces.” According to study co-author and Bren School faculty member Samantha Stevenson, the paper proves that “in fire-prone places like California and Australia, we can expect future El Niño and La Niña events to have a bigger impact on fire risk in a given year.” Stevenson also added that the sensitivity of land temperature and precipitation is “due to climate change.”

The research being conducted by academics at UCSB and at other institutions in Santa Barbara is just one of the ways that residents of the Santa Barbara community are doing their part to combat and raise awareness of fire dangers in the area. For example, on Jan. 7, 2020 a series of controlled burns were initiated by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Controlled burns include permissive burns and prescribed burns. Permissive burns are conducted by the fire department to destroy areas of dense brush that might serve as kindling for future fires in Santa Barbara. Although the measures being taken by the Santa Barbara community might seem overly cautious to the outside observer, at a fire public safety event

held at Santa

Barbara’s Office of Emergency Management last October, wildland fire specialists stressed the importance of understanding climate change in our region. According to Noozhawk, public officials stated that “communities need to accommodate a growing population” in order to “guarantee fire safety.” Noting the importance of observation and research, Leila Carvalho, a professor of meteorology and climatology in UCSB’s Department of Geography, finished by emphasizing that “increasing resilience in the changing environment is a community effort.” Illustration by Alyssa Long | Art Director

Apeel Sciences:

The UCSB Technology Management Start-Up That Could KRYSTAL CHEN | Staff Writer

peel Sciences is a U.C. Santa Barbara (UCSB) Technology Management Program-based startup that develops plant-based, edible preservatives. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “the current world population of 7.3 billion is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030.” With rapid population growth assumed to be inevitable and substantial — far outpacing the ability of our planet to support it — over-farming issues have become increasingly pressing. With such a large population, individuals will need to alter their plant consumption to meet healthier and more sustainable standards. Generally, farmers rely on mechanization, pesticides and chemical fertilizers to increase the yield of existing farmland. However, this practice has led

to undesirable consequences, such as soil erosion, deforestation, and eutrophication, which have caused significantly negative impacts on human, animal, and plant life. According to the article "Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation: A Synthesis Report for REDD+ Policymakers," agriculture is responsible for about 80 percent of deforestation worldwide. Taking advantage of the amazing resources from UCSB’s New Venture Competition (NVC), in 2012 Rogers established Apeel Sciences with a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the years, Apeel Sciences has strived to develop more natural plant-based and non-chemical products that can potentially be the solutions for over-harvesting and water waste. Apeel extracts plant kingdom’s own evolved defense and applies

it to their main products, Apeel, to extend shelf life and keep their product fresh for up to two times longer than their regular life. Currently, Apeel Sciences has cooperated with dozens of USDA Organic Certified and conventional produce categories, and the company works with partners ranging from smallholder farmers and local organic growers to create the healthiest and most sustainable products possible. The NVC is an eight-month, free educational program, made to enrich students’ business experience with exciting activities and valuable curriculum spanning the entire academic year. During the winter quarter, participants will go through an intensive period of coursework, thus refining their business concepts and frameworks with their teammates. With a series of public events during the spring quarter, teams

will present their finalized business ideas to a panel of experienced professionals, competing for $40,000 prizes and other sorts of school support to launch their new ventures. The NVC served as a platform for Rogers to incubate the business and nurtured technology that was necessary for the company to grow. With experienced tutors and incredible UCSB facilities, the competition has offered students with multiple resources, which prepare students with necessary skills for initiating and realizing their business plans. Since 2018, Apeel has saved 1,980,560 avocados at retail stores, which has saved enough water to fill 405 olympic-sized swimming pools. With Apeel, less food is wasted and more resources are saved. Interested in learning more about Apeel Sciences? Watch

The Bottom Line’s video team, The Line, take you on a behind-the-scenes journey into the world of Apeel Sciences at https:// www.facebook.com/tblucsb/videos/4241381102576984/. Check out our website https:// thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/video for more exclusive video content! Illustration by Drew Buchanan | Staff Illustrator

SCIENCE & TECH | 9

Is "You" Problematic? LAUREN LUNA | Staff Writer

his article contains major spoilers for the second season of the Netflix show "You." Just after Christmas Day, Netflix released the second season of hit thriller T.V. show "You." Starring Penn Badgley from "Gossip Girl" as the antihero Joe, "You" has cultivated a broad fanbase with significant critical acclaim. The tension between Joe’s acts of violence and his more sympathetic points has converted him into the Internet’s “white boy of the month,” as seen by a multitude of tweets circulating the web. In the first season of "You," New York City bookstore manager Joe engineers his relationship with graduate student Guinevere Beck. He stops at nothing to get her and takes out all obstacles, such as an aggravatingly privileged ex-lover and a borderline-obsessive best friend. Based on his violent tactics alone, Joe can be easily condemned, yet the show colors his character with past traumas as a child and present ventures to save neighbors Claudia and Paco from Claudia’s abusive boyfriend, Ron. In the second season, Joe moves to Los Angeles for what he calls a “fresh start,” where he meets new girlfriend Love Quinn. He assumes the identity of Will Bettelheim, a clean I.D. distributor who he holds hostage for most of season two, eventually setting him free. Love initially appears as another of Joe’s fixations, yet Joe learns he has met his match with her. One of the biggest twists in season two occurs when Love

10 | OPINIONS

killed Joe’s ex, Candace, rather than Joe doing the job himself. In essence, Love Quinn and Joe Goldberg are the same person. While Joe seems like he’s on the way towards redemption through his relationships with Ellie and Will, in the end we learn that Joe hasn’t changed at all. "You" originally debuted on the Lifetime television network, where it had a dedicated yet small

heavy content in the series. Through the jabs at Joe’s antics and the praises of the notably lighter points in the show, memes acknowledge "You" as the narrative of an evidently deranged man. More impressionable viewers may take the intimate perspective into Joe’s psychology seriously. Because the show looks so closely into Joe’s past and his thoughts

with clearly unsound tendencies. Yet the problem with the critical perspective of the show is that it also takes the show more seriously than it is meant to be taken. As the show takes something so easily rejected by society and familiarizes with relatable traits and human feelings, skeptics find that the show makes excuses for an evidently insane man. Some think the show per-

audience. After coming to Netflix in 2018, both the popularity and controversy of "You" spiked. After the release of season two, specifically, the internet exploded with memes surrounding the show. Caricatures and parodies of the show dominated the web despite the psychologically

which range from internal stabs at millennial culture to his long-winded musings on his fixations, it runs the risk of inspiring sympathy for his character among the audience of the show. Critics consider this image of Joe’s character problematic because it romanticizes a character

petuates the idea that violence against women is okay, which creates tension especially in a fragile time period in the context of the #MeToo movement. Though the show portrays female violence, it doesn’t excuse or support it. In an interview with RadioTimes, Elizabeth Lail (Guinevere

Beck) said that the most unfortunate part about the show was that “the woman doesn’t live in the end.'' Preceded by countless shows where the pursued woman scarcely escapes her disgruntled lover, "You" follows in the trope which spells defeat for the victim. While season two does not adopt the same trope, the audience does see a married Joe fall for his faceless neighbor, restarting the cycle and telling the viewers that through all the points at which redemption seemed like a possibility for our antihero, Joe remains the same. Through all the different perspectives on the show, viewers need to recognize that while "You" analyzes scenarios that could be real, the show itself is fictional. It could be argued that a less intimate insight into Joe’s mind would leave less of an impression on audiences, yet this insight is exactly what separates "You" from other T.V. shows following the narrative of a serial killer. Joe is the embodiment of the “nice guy”; he claims to be detached from modern life and refuses to engage in trendy things. He rationalizes his sociopathic behavior with the mistakes of other people, which conveys the evident problems with this mentality which exists among many young men today. While Joe’s individual story does not need to be taken seriously, the societal issues which the show highlights deserve attention. Illustration by Lauren Luna | Staff Illustrator

On "Gun Girl" and Navigating

Respectful Political Discussions RICHARD SMITH | Contributing Writer

aitlin Bennett, commonly referred to as "Gun Girl," has been making a name for herself on Twitter with her poorly conducted interviews in which she asks loaded questions based on inflammatory, conservative views. It has been called into question whether or not people should circulate her material with the intention of insulting or criticizing her, as that would be playing right into her hands. "Dragging" Bennett is indeed playing her game, as it fights fire with fire and adds to the belligerent nature of the debate. But, to abstain from discussion of her statements and behavior entirely would simply avoid the necessary conflict. It’s important to ask in this

case why we don’t simply ignore anyone with her views. We clearly don’t and shouldn’t, because the discussion is an important part of developing understanding and respect of differing viewpoints on different political issues, even if we can’t always agree. What she does wrong then, is not engaging with these issues, but the way she engages with them. It is important that we discuss and criticize what she does, because that will lead to us collectively understanding why it is wrong. The discussion of Kaitlin Bennett ought to be a discussion concerning tastefulness, argumentative technique, and respect. Rather than “drag” her or say that it’s “on sight,” which only fuels the flame of political

tension, we should point out her argumentative inadequacies. This would easily silence her. We should ask ourselves: What is wrong with Kaitlin Bennett that isn’t necessarily wrong with any other person who is outspoken on political beliefs? Due to the nature of Twitter, people who are drawn to support Bennett due to seeing criticism of her would have to have already been following someone who outspokenly criticizes her, which is unlikely. Therefore, this number of people is probably very low. For all other viewers garnered by viral criticism, they are either indifferent or critical of her. Both of these audiences will quickly stop watching her content once she is no longer viral. The question remains as to

what revenue Bennett is receiving due to her newfound virality. I could find no results online as to what sort of money she regularly receives for her work, let alone due to recent popularity. Supposing, however, that all the benefits of this popularity come in the form of support from websites such as InfoWars and Liberty Hangout, it seems to follow the same consequences as her influx of general viewers. Once again her popularity will wane as her virality does, and she will be rendered as useful to these websites as she was before. In one of her most viral interviews, the interviewee Michael Hawse used his sudden popularity to set up a fundraiser that donated to pediatric research which garnered about $500 on the first

afternoon. So even without the discussion reacting to Bennett being considered, there has been a tangible good that resulted from her virality. This is because her going viral has reminded viewers how to act and motivated them to act well. Illustration by Drew Buchanan | Staff Illustrator

OPINIONS | 11

EMILY XU | Staff Illustrator

Comic of the Week

12 | ILLUSTRATIONS

Comic by Jake Ortega | Comic Artist

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ILLUSTRATIONS | 13

u Pitt makes his way towards the red carpet after a handful of interviews with major media outlets.

GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor

t The marquee at the Arlington Theatre illuminated the growing crowd anticipating Brad Pitt’s arrival.

In an interview with The Bottom Line, Pitt joyously gave advice to students who were interested in pursuing a career in the film industry. “There are so many different aspects to film. Just listen to your instincts, get in there and try everything and see where your interests lie, and learn the craft, really study the craft,” explained Pitt.

u Pitt took his time speaking with all the press, showing his appreciation for everyone who came out to honor his achievements and career.

u Along with acclaimed film critic Leonard Maltin, Pitt discussed the many phases of his career, providing attendees with a refined perspective on his personal and professional life.

14 | PHOTOSTORY

Long time collaborator David Fincher presented Pitt with the Maltin Modern Master Award.

SAMUEL YANG | Staff Photographer

Bong joon ho p t International reception for Parasite was outstanding, demonstrated not only by the Academy Award nomination, but also in the lines around the block for the free screening of Parasite last Friday.

Fans of Bong Joon Ho, who call themselves the "BongHive" rushed to the barrier for autographs.

q Elated to receive his Outstanding Director Award, Bong expressed his shock at the international recognition of Parasite and voiced his gratitude towards Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

INTERNATIONAL

FILM FESTIVAL

t Constantly showing warm smiles and making jokes, Bong kept the atmosphere during his interview light and entertaining.

PHOTOSTORY | 15

The plethora of buses residing all around Isla Vista is one of the things that contributes to its unique college town atmosphere.

Busses of

Isla Vista3 GRAEME JACKSON | Photo Editor CASSIS BROWN | Contributing Photographer

PHOTOSTORY | 16