UCSC Prioritizes Research Over Teaching
UC Santa Cruz continues to grasp at prestige as a research university, but has largely neglected research’s counterpart — teaching. In the 2013-14 academic year, a group of 55 individuals formed the Planning Task Force (PTF) to brainstorm what would become “Envision UCSC,” a strategic...
Vacant Desk Should Be Thoughtfully Filled
Only 40 percent of Americans trust mass media to report the news accurately and fairly, according to a September 2014 Gallup poll. Jon Stewart gave us a reason to trust again. After 16 years as lead anchor, Stewart, a pioneer of political satire news reporting,...
UCSC’s Plan for the Future Lacks Any Bite
The plan sounds impressive in theory. The university acknowledges that there are problem areas and has some type of plan to improve students’ experience at UCSC. Unfortunately, the plan lacks tangible details, solutions and opportunities for dialogue. As of now, the plan reads like an...
The Proposal Heard ‘Round the Nation
President Barack Obama is on the brink of revolutionizing our education system. In an unexpected announcement on Jan. 7, he proposed to provide two years of free tuition for community college students. The White House estimates that this proposal will help community college students save...
A Fine Line Between Hurt and Humor
Almost 4 million people across France rallied to support the victims of an attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine. The attack, which left 12 dead and nearly a dozen wounded, was exacted by three Muslim extremists agitated by depictions of...
A New Authority on the Decisions That Matter
Sen. Ricardo Lara recently proposed a constitutional amendment that aims to give the California Legislature unparalleled control over the UC system, putting the UCs under the same laws and oversight as California state universities and community colleges. A similar bill was proposed in 2009 and...
Preparing for War, Not for Safety
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a “state of emergency” through an executive order on Monday, which comes 100 days after Ferguson officer Darren Wilson killed unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown. Since Brown’s death, his family members, their supporters and Ferguson residents have organized for months, demanding...
Failing the First Priority
The UC system is reaching out to students with a handshake, but its so-called deal could cost students up to an additional $3,372 in tuition over the next five years.
#GamerGate Promotes Misogyny in the Video Game Industry
Anita Sarkeesian, a feminist cultural critic known for her online video series “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games,” was scheduled to speak at Utah State University three weeks ago — until the university administration received an anonymous email saying that if Sarkeesian didn’t cancel her...
Separation from the Political Sphere
The democratic arena has lost a vital sense of excitement. The level of commitment and connection that compelled citizens to elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt to four consecutive terms is now unimaginable. Even the buzz around Barack Obama in 2008, which led to the highest national...