Nothing to Lose, Only Demands to Win
For three days in May 2017, Black students and supporters sat in the confines of an unventilated Kerr Hall to secure guaranteed housing for African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) identifying students, along with other demands. UC Santa Cruz’s Black Student Union (BSU), known then as…
Ethnic Organization Leaders on Identity, Community, and More
For those entering UC Santa Cruz, finding a community with shared experiences and similar backgrounds can be essential. That’s where UCSC’s Big 5 ethnic organizations come in. They are just a handful of the ethnic and identity organizations on campus that provide safe spaces and…
Despite New Campus Housing In The Future, Students Are Struggling In The Present
Third-year student Josh Ticheli opened his email in late August to see this message from the university about the status of his on-campus housing application. “At this time, we have one spot on campus for every 11 students currently on the waitlist. Interest in on-campus…
Distinguished Professor Emerita Sandy Chung Honored by Academy of Arts and Sciences
At a military club in Milpitas, California during the mid-’90s, former classmates reconnected and reminisced about their shared high school experience in Guam and the years state-side since, speaking in their native tongue: Chamorro. Their teachers, predominantly American, addressed the gathering in the only language…
AAPI Heritage Month Event Hosted by Student Organizations
Laughter and conversation rang out from the typically quiet study hall of Oakes Learning Center as students gathered for fragrant food, painting, and karaoke. The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Event was hosted by the Kuya Ate Mentorship Program (KAMP) and Community…
Engaging Education Host’s Tamika D. Mallory and Tiffany Dena Loftin Talk Organizing, Activism, and Collaboration
“It’s unity, not uniformity.” When it comes to organizing, Tamika D. Mallory holds this advice close to her heart. Mallory was invited by student-led organization, engaging education (e2), to speak with UC Santa Cruz alumna and fellow organizer Tiffany Dena Loftin for this year’s Speaker…
Modeling New Futures: Abolitionist Authors Speak at Quarry
Fifteen minutes after the scheduled start of the “Abolition. Feminism. Now.” speaker event, the line still runs all the way through Quarry Plaza. Some have brought their own copies of the book, and others have already taken out their wallets to buy a copy. On…
John R. Lewis College Dedication: Keynote Speakers
One started in verse. One started in prose. One started in song. Tension between student protestors’ silence and campus administration speeches hung heavy over the Quarry Amphitheater during the John R. Lewis College Dedication, as its three keynote speakers were tasked with speaking to a…
BSU Doubles Down On Demands During John R. Lewis College Dedication
Speaking to a packed crowd at the Quarry Amphitheater, Black Student Union (BSU) President X Starr turned around and locked eyes with one attendee sitting behind them during their speech: Michael Drake, the president of the University of California. Squatting in front of both Drake…
“Not the Church, Not the State, Women Must Decide Their Fate”: Roe v. Wade Protest
Passionate chants broke the contentious morning air. Since news of the leak from the Supreme Court surfaced, a sense of doom fell on the nation, and UC Santa Cruz was no exception. 40 hours after the Politico leak, students organized a protest set to begin…