Q&A with UCSC’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.)
What do you think of UCSC being an Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designate? “The title “Hispanic” is a bit problematic in my opinion because the administration tries to group us in just one big category. It’s problematic because it excludes any Latinxs who aren’t “Hispanic”...
Funding Under Scrutiny
Planned Parenthood is under scrutiny for donating fetal tissue for research purposes, including the development of cures for illnesses including Alzheimer’s and AIDS. Many politicians, social groups and other anti-abortion activists are fighting to defund Planned Parenthood. While reproductive rights advocates believe laws should adapt...
Canonization of Junipero Serra Alienates Native Americans
On Sept. 24, Pope Francis stood in the Washington D.C. Basilica and made history by canonizing Father Junipero Serra, thus making the 18th century Franciscan friar the first saint ever declared on U.S. soil. During the mass, Francis spoke to the “misinterpreted legacy” of Serra,...
Q&A with UCSC’s Filipino Student Association
What are some challenges of running a student organization as big as FSA, and with so many different aspects? “Within FSA we have 13 aspects, ranging from our performing arts troupes, to our high school outreach and academic retention groups, and even a five-unit Pilipino...
Q&A with UCSC’s African/Black Student Alliance
Answers provided by co-chairs Keiera Bradley and Melissa Lyken: In 2014, 700 African American students were admitted to UCSC, and that number dropped to 520 this year. What do you think this says about the university’s mission to increase diversity? “The University of California as...
UC Student Congress Recap
In response to attacks on accessibility to higher education in the late 1960s, University of California students mobilized to form what eventually became known as the University of California Student Association (UCSA). UCSA is a student government organization that advocates for all 240,000 UC students....
Why the Tuition Freeze is Not Enough
A small victory was won for in-state UC students on May 13. Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to increase state funding has delayed a tuition increase for the next two years, which assures that students won’t have to brave a tuition hike next fall. With the...
What’s Next?
The spring election attracted the highest voter turnout in the last eight years — about 39 percent of undergraduate students voted. Due to low voter turnout, no student fees had been approved by the student body through the Student Union Assembly (SUA) spring election since...
UC’s Contradictions About Student Activism
UC Santa Cruz has spent 50 years touting itself as a bastion of radical politics tucked between the redwoods. Its slogan, “The original authority on questioning authority,” can be seen on banners attached to street lamps and plastered on buses up and down Highway 17....
2015 SUA Officer Election Results Announced
The SUA Constitutional Amendments have passed, and the titles have changed from “chair” to “president.” President: Julie Rachel Foster Vice President of Internal Affairs: Jabari Brown Vice President of External Affairs: Guillermo E. Rogel, Jr. Vice President of Academic Affairs: Seamus Howard Vice President of Diversity: Sauli Colio Organizing Director: Arturo Motta Representatives-elect:...