What’s the Deal With Local Comedy?
A group of men and women start arranging tables and chairs. They place candles around the room as overhead lights dim and musicians take the stage. When Thursday rolls around, so does this ritual. The tradition is secular yet its dogma is laughter — a…
Obama’s Final State of the Union Address
Congress members sat in the House Chamber as President Barack Obama took the podium on Tuesday to give his final State of the Union address. The tradition, outlined in the U.S. Constitution, allows the president to address Congress and the public regarding the nation’s current…
#DoUCmyStudentDebt
What started as a few students setting up a table in Quarry Plaza turned into a powerful speak out and march through campus and into lecture halls. The protesters interrupted classes with collective shouts of “Out of the classroom and into the streets — no…
Students Hold a Die-In While Slugs for Israel Table
As Slugs for Israel (SFI) members tabled in Quarry Plaza last Friday afternoon to stand in solidarity with Israel after several attacks against Israelis, about 10 students dressed in all-black and lay motionless on the ground next to them representing the Palestinians killed in Israel in…
Banana Slugs Take the Streets
Wearing a bright yellow hat with antennae poking out of the top, Santa Cruz mayor Don Lane stood next to a 10-foot balloon banana slug and officially proclaimed Oct. 25 “Banana Slug Day.” About 200 Santa Cruz community members, alumni and students walked down…
Critiquing the American Dream
Moments after the paintings were set up on campus, students began to react. Fourth-year Tristan M. walked out of McHenry Library and was confronted with an image of two hooded men in suits — one wearing a police vest, with a gun and drug needle…
The Rights to West Cliff
It’s clear why he goes by the name “Red.” His long red beard and hair are hard to miss walking along the West Cliff by Lighthouse Field. As he stood next to his home — a minivan that neighbored others living in their Recreational Vehicles…
Teen Charged with Murder of Maddy Middleton Pleads Not Guilty
Facing life behind bars for charges related to the kidnapping, rape and murder of 8 year-old Tannery resident Madyson “Maddy” Middleton, 15-year-old A.J. Gonzalez pled not guilty to all charges in court on Sept. 21. Maddy died of positional asphyxiation and stab wounds to the…
In Memoriam: Aaryn Goldberg
“It was her ‘Happy Hat,’ for sure,” Aaryn Goldberg’s mother, Linda Kuck, remembers. Kuck knitted her daughter a green beanie as part of one of her first “care packages” during Aaryn’s freshman year at UC Santa Cruz. She didn’t expect her daughter to wear it…
Fighting for Respect and a Livable Wage
Seven members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521 were arrested by order of the mayor during a Santa Cruz City Council meeting on May 26. After speaking on behalf of SEIU, the members locked arms in front of council members shouting, “What…