Volume 8, Issue 24 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

Volume 8, Issue 24 | May 28 - June 3, 2014

UCSB’s Weekly Student-Run Newspaper

@tblucsb / thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu

One Town, Indivisible Extended Coverage Inside: SAFE SPACE: Providing safety through 2014 Womyn of Color Conference News / 3 IN MEMORIUM: Victims are remembered and honored at a candlelight vigil. Photo / 4 STAFF EDITORIAL: Our message to the Isla Vista community following the tragedy. Opinions / 8 Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer

Attendees sit arm-in-arm during a moment of silence at the memorial service held at Harder Stadium May 27.

UCSB and the surrounding community rally in the wake of the events of May 23

Isla Vista Community Responds to Tragedy with Extraordinary Acts of Memoriam and Sorrow

by Giuseppe Ricapito IV BEAT REPORTER

n the wake of the Isla Vista killing spree, which claimed the lives of six victims and injured 13 others, local students, residents, and officials have all come together with fellowship and support, mutually declaring the concord and preservation of the community. Heartfelt dedications, such as shrines of flowers, candles and photographs, have cropped up at various crime scenes in front of IV Deli, at the top of the loop on Embarcadero Del Norte and at the site of the deaths of Katie Cooper and Veronika Weiss. “Were here to stand in solidarity as the Isla Vista community and mourn together,” said University of California, Santa Barbara alum Marjan Riazi at the Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, May 24. “Please respect each other and remember that everyone is processing this experience in their own way… We’re all here together, we’re all here for each other.” The Candlelight Vigil, which began at UCSB’s Storke Plaza, reflected the unprecedented sentiment of community togetherness that has permeated Isla Vista since the tragic events of May 23. Throughout the Vigil, which was organized by Associated Students Executives, involved students, and UCSB administrators. There was no talk of the killer— only a forthright commitment to the reparation of Isla Vista and a remembrance of the victims. A vast sea of heavyhearted students, community members, and UCSB faculty filled the entirety of Storke Plaza, from the stairwells, down to the arches and around the koi pond. Within the thousandsstrong crowd, many could be seen crying, and most were holding long candles distributed by the event organizers. Local political leaders, such as United States Representative Lois Capps, and Santa Barbara City Councilmeber Cathy Murillo were also present at the memorial. Riazi and fellow alum Ryan Yamamoto began by speaking to the students, reinforcing that Counseling Services were available to any student that needed them. After a moment of silence, a campus acapella

Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer Mourners reflect on the bullet hole-riddled glass of the 7-Eleven in Isla Vista.

Photo by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer The candlelight vigil held on May 24 brought community members together on a walk from Storke Plaza to Anisq’Oyo Park. group gave a touching elegiac rendition of Amazing Grace. The Vigil then began its resolute march out of campus down Pardall Road and around the IV Loop, tramping over Elliot Rodger’s path of violence to their final destination at the Anisq’oyo’ Park amphitheater. “In the face of everything this is beautiful. So thank you,” said Yamamoto, the first speaker to address the crowd. Inviting anyone to the stage to express his or her emotions, he continued, “This is our moment for healing. We all stand here, we all sit here as a school, as a community.” UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang came up next, speaking with a tremulous tone in his voice. “Words do not exist for me to express just how saddened we are for what happened last night in Isla Vista,” he said. “The entire UC Santa Barbara community and our Santa Barbara community is in mourning.” “We grieve for the loss of such precious life so early,” he said. “We honor the memory of those who were so suddenly and terribly taken from us. We are moved by the compassion and the courage we have witnessed over the last 24 hours.” Chancellor Yang also took note of the widespread aid Isla Vista had received in its time of need. UC President Janet Napolitano pledged the support of the University of California system, he said, while also indicating that additional counselors would be visiting UCSB to provide

further assistance. Multiple students took the opportunity to speak at the Vigil, extolling the unity and sympathetic message of the aggrieved Isla Vista community. Loree Lewis, a UCSB fourthyear, related through tears, “I want to tell all of you, Isla Vista is my first love.” “The saddest part of all of this to me is that I don’t know all of the individuals that were injured last night, or that are still injured, or that were lost,” she said. “I know that at least one of them taught this to me. They taught me to understand and to be compassionate and to understand a different point of view and that this misconception is continuously construed that there’s a lack of love between all of us… I know that you are loving, you’ve showed it to me.” Richard Martinez, the father of IV Deli Mart victim Christopher Michael-Martinez, spoke to reporters at the May 24 press conference, tearfully articulating that he had spoken to his only son on the phone just 45 minutes before he died. “It’s just insane,” he said, bashing both politicians and the NRA for their stances on the availability of firearms. “How can this go on? What are we thinking? … What about my sons right and all these other kids to live a life without being shot?” Martinez also noted the spectac-

See MOURNING | Page 2

The UCSB Counseling and Psychological Services phone number is available 24/7, (805) 893-4411.

Isla Vista Mass Murder Claims Lives of Six UCSB Students, 13 Injured

by Giuseppe Ricapito IV BEAT REPORTER

sla Vista resident and Santa Barbara City College student Elliot Rodger, 22, engaged in what Santa Barbara Sheriff’s officials have labeled “a premeditated mass murder” on Friday, May 23, around 9:30 p.m. After killing three individuals in his apartment, Rodger drove his tintedwindow black BMW in a winding loop through Isla Vista, and in the span of about 10 minutes, killed three more students and injured 13 before taking his own life on the 6500 block of Del Playa. “It’s obviously a heartbreaking situation to see this happening in a community that is an adjacent community to our world class university,” said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown at a late-night press conference a few hours after the incident. “But I think the problem with an incident like this is it’s obviously the work of a madman.” The names of the student victims have been positively identified and are as follows: Cheng Yuan (James) Hong of San Jose, Calif., 19; George Chen of San Jose, Calif., 19; Weihan Wang of Fremont, Calif., 20; Katherine (Katie) Breann Cooper of Chino Hills, Calif., 22; Veronika Elizabeth Weiss of Westlake Village, Calif., 19; and Christopher (Chris) Ross Michaels-Martinez of Los Osos, Calif., 20. All of the student victims were Isla Vista

residents attending University of California, Santa Barbara. Stephen Kaminski, Trauma Director for Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, spoke at a second Sheriff’s Press Conference on Saturday, May 24, indicating that the identities of the 13 wounded could not yet be released. Though Kaminski could not characterize the specific injuries of the hospitalized victims, he did say that four patients had been treated and released. Of the seven people still hospitalized, two are in good condition, three are in fair condition, and two are in serious condition, he said. A Sheriff’s Office News Release notes additionally, four “were apparently injured by the suspect’s vehicle, eight sustained gunshot wounds and one sustained a minor injury from an unknown origin.” As the Isla Vista community grieves for those lost, it has also confronted and denounced the hateful, misogynist, and homicidal rhetoric found in Rodger’s multiple manifestos. In “Elliot Rodger’s Retribution,” a disturbing YouTube video posted immediately before the shooting, the killer calls himself “the supreme gentleman” and claims humanity deserves destruction, “just for the crime of living a better life than me.” A 141-page semi-autobiographical manifesto has also surfaced, in which the killer details

See TRAGEDY | Page 2

2 | NEWS

TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

AS BEAT REPORT

–TRAGEDY

Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer Protesters hold up signs reading “silence is siding with the oppressor” and “neutrality helps the oppressor and never the victim” at the AS Senate meeting on May 21.

AS Senate Passes Final Legislation, Students Protest Inauguration by Kelsey Knorp AS BEAT REPORTER The 2013-2014 Associated Students Senate made its final decisions on Wednesday, May 21, before ceding its powers to newly elected officials, whose inauguration was attended by a number of silent protestors. The protest ensued just after midnight as the new Senate convened in the lobby of the MultiCultural Center, and was organized to contest the inauguration of External Vice President of Local Affairs (EVPLA) Beatrice Contreras in accordance with accusations of sexual assault brought against her in April. Protestors held signs reading statements such as “How many people will you silence?”, “This is what rape culture looks like,” and “Being silent is being complicit.” Many stood intermittently throughout the seated audience, while some held their signs against windows of the building from outside. After the swearing in of senators, as well as executive officers Ali Guthy (President), Angela Lau (Internal Vice President), Melvin Singh (External Vice President of Statewide Affairs), Bailey Loverin (Student Advocate General), and Contreras, Lau called the first meeting of the new Senate to order at almost 12:30 a.m. One protester remained in the lobby, standing before the Senate as he turned side to side, displaying a sign that read “Mentee does not consent.” Earlier that evening, the outgoing Senate reconvened on a contentious bill outlining changes in AS Student Lobby’s legal code. The primary point of debate was a stipulation in the bill permitting the External Vice Presidents of Statewide and Local Affairs (EVPSA and EVPLA) to appoint the group’s chairs each year. “There are a lot of dangers that will be possible if our autonomy to choose our leaders and the issues that we lobby on is ceded to an outside entity that [isn’t] keeping up with what goes on in the organization,” said Lupe Zelada, an off-campus senator and vice-chair of Student Lobby. Off-Campus Sen. Derek Wakefield advocated for the bill on the grounds the voices of the elected officers should take precedence over those of appointed officials.

“If the EVPLA and EVPSA are elected authentically by 3,000 [to] 4,000-plus students, their voice should be viewed [more highly] than the voice of somebody who is appointed in a position,” he said. EVPSA Alex Choate recommended during her final weekly report that the Senate add an amendment to clarify that the bill is not meant to undermine the autonomy of Student Lobby, but ideally would facilitate an interview involving the incoming EVPLA and EVPSA, along with the outgoing Student Lobby codirector and representatives from the Committee on Committees. Thereafter, the EVPLA and EVPSA would submit their chosen recommendation to the AS President, who then would have to submit the recommended candidate for Senate approval. Ultimately, the bill passed with a 12-6-4 vote, having been amended by Off-Campus Sen. Andre Theus to include Choate’s proposed change. The outgoing Senate also passed “A Resolution in Support of a Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing and Acid Well Stimulation,” which encourages Gov. Jerry Brown and the California state legislature to ban the process of “fracking,” which involves drilling and injecting fluid into the earth at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks and release natural gas inside. Lastly, the passage of “A Resolution to Accept and Approve the AS Strategic Plan” signified the finalization of a six-year plan, designed in large part by Off-Campus Sen. Jimmy Villarreal and outgoing AS President Jonathan Abboud, that is intended to set guidelines for the Association as a whole through the year 2020. The executive officers of the 2012-2013 year ended their terms with some parting words to the Senate and to their successors. Abboud cautioned against allowing political party divisions to drive decision-making, and also directed some words of advice toward incoming President Ali Guthy. “Don’t let party politics take over AS,” he said. “Do what makes sense, not what’s emotional, and not what people are pressuring you to do. You got elected to make the decision that needs to be made.”

CORRECTIONS:

a personal history of “misery, rejection, loneliness, and pain.” Rife with misogyny, racism, entitlement, and a deranged plan to exact vengeance, he declared, “I will punish everyone.” At the May 24 Press Conference, Sheriff Brown spoke on three reported contacts between Santa Barbara officers and the killer. On July 21, 2013, Rodger sustained a broken leg and beating, and claimed to officers to be the victim of assault. The case was suspended, however, when IV Foot Patrol officers believed Rodger might have been the aggressor. His manifesto details the incident, in which he pretended to shoot partygoers and eventually attempted to throw female attendees off a balcony. One of the killer’s neighbors, who wished to remain anonymous, recalled Rodger returning on that date to the Capri apartment complex bruised and beaten, screaming about killing his attackers and killing himself. The neighbor said he was able to calm the weeping Rodger down, but the two had few conversations beyond that time. “There was nothing I could’ve done,” the neighbor said. “Maybe I could’ve postponed it, but he was a troubled kid.” On January 15, 2014, Rodger accused his roommate of stealing three candles from him, with a

Continued from page 1

Photo by Lorenzo Basilio| Staff Photographer Eliot Rodger’s black BMW is dislodged from the sidewalk on the 6500 block of Del Playa Dr. on May 24. total value of the items set at $22. Rodger performed a citizen’s arrest on his roommate, who was booked into jail and cited. Lastly, on April 30, Sheriff’s deputies conducted a welfare check of the shooter at his residence, following a request from a family member. Brown said deputies found Rodger to be “courteous and polite… timid and shy” as he “expressed difficulties with his social life.” They ultimately “determined that he did not meet the criteria for an involuntary mental health pull.” In his manifesto, Rodger re-

–MOURNING

lated fear that his pre-meditated plan would have been uncovered. “[If] they demanded to search my room… That would have ended everything,” he wrote. A previous neighbor said Rodger lashed out at him and his friends on one occasion, claiming he was a “God,” and saying, “I’m better than you guys. I’m better than all you guys.” “When I heard that he did this, it wasn’t a surprise to me,” the previous neighbor said. “I wish that I

See TRAGEDY | Page 3

Continued from page 1

Photo by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer Richard Martinez, father of slain UCSB student Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, addresses the press on May 24. ular academic record of his son, who, after planning to study abroad next year in London, was considering an early graduation and a career in law. “Everybody thinks it won’t happen to their family, and then it does,” he said. “None of us, I don’t care who you are, are immune from this.” The police response to the shooting has been widely lauded for its staunch confrontation of the suspect, its prompt response time and prevention of further injury. Sheriff Brown commended the “resolute actions and valor” of those in his department, while also offering consolation to the victim’s families and a commitment to the continuing investigation. “I also want to let the families of the victims know that our hearts go out to them at this tragic time,” he said. “We will be doing all that we can in the near future to try to identify the actual circumstances and the complete background information and so forth about this horrific series of events that occurred this evening.” Facebook has become a hotbed of expression for students memori-

alizing the victims, speaking out on senseless violence, and condemning Rodger’s ideology. Groups in remembrance of the aforementioned victims, as well as for Cheng Yuan Hong, George Chen and Weihan Wang, have garnered thousands of likes. The Twitter hashtag #YesAllWomen has also been trending, reflecting a widespread condemnation of the misogynistic rhetoric peddled by the shooter. But community voices were not the only responses to the tragedy. A media onslaught has descended on Isla Vista, filling the town to the brim with reporters, photographers and media vans from all across the country. Multiple stations have conducted live television reports from the sites of the various crime scenes, such as IV Deli Mart and the gated area outside’s the shooter’s residence. As the weekend passed after the shooting, symbolic objections were developing to the often-intrusive presence of news outlets. One UCSB sophomore, wear-

ing a black bandana and glasses over his face, silently held a red poster that read, “NEWS CREWS, OUT NOW!” at the focal points of the media coverage. “I’m not trying to get recognition for doing this,” he said in regards to remaining anonymous. “We just need to recognize the problem.” He explained his opposition to all the coverage. “One contributing factor that drives murderers to pull off these situations is all of the recognition that they know they’re going to get afterwards,” he said. “So, I would feel guilty if I didn’t hold this sign.” Isla Vista is in a state of recovery, and it will remain this way long after the reporters have vacated the community. The response to the tragic shootings has shattered Isla Vista’s reputation as a callous party haven, instead confirming its core values of togetherness, audacity, and camaraderie. Like the many candles burning at the nighttime vigil, it is apparent that strength and compassion of Isla Vista cannot be extinguished.

On page five of last week’s issue, “KJEE Roundup Kicks Off Summer” was wrongly attributed to Gilberto Flores. The writer was Bailee Abell.

WRITERS THIS ISSUE: Kelsey Knorp, Giuseppe Ricapito, Chloe Babauta, Isabelle Geczy, Mark Brocher, Andrea Vallone, Bailee Abell, Madison Donahue-Wolfe, Léna GarcÍa, Mimi Liu, Judy Lau, Adam Rubin

PHOTOGRAPHERS THIS ISSUE: Lorenzo Basilio, Mark Brocher, Neha Pearce, Benjamin Hurst

The Bottom Line is sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Opinions expressed in TBL do not necessarily represent those of the staff, AS, or UCSB. Published with support from Generation Progress/Center for American Progress (genprogress.org). All submissions, questions or comments may be directed to bottomlineucsb@gmail.com or content.tbl@gmail.com.

The Bottom Line provides a printed and online space for student investigative journalism, culturally and socially aware commentary, and engaging reporting that addresses the diverse concerns of our readership and community. This is your community to build, share ideas, and publicize your issues and events. We welcome your questions, comments, or concerns at bottomlineucsb@gmail.com, or call our office phone at 805-893-2440.

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TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

NEWS | 3

–TRAGEDY Continued from page 2 could have done something about it.” At a press conference on the day following the shooting, Sheriff Brown characterized the incident as “chaotic, rapidly unfolding, and convoluted,” with 12 crime scenes spread across 10 locations. Rodger began his rampage by reportedly stabbing repeatedly Hong and Chen, his roommates, as well as Wang, who was either a third roommate or a visitor to the residence. Sheriff Brown described the scene as “horrific.” It is unclear how Rodger was able to murder his roommates while also avoiding detection. His current neighbor noted, “I couldn’t hear a single thing.” After killing the three victims at his residence, Rodger drove to the Alpha Phi sorority house where residents reported “loud and aggressive knocking” at the front of the building. “Fortunately, no one opened the door,” Sheriff Brown said. Rodger then left the scene, and witnesses reported seeing him shoot three female victims across the street. Cooper and Weiss died from their injuries, and a third female victim, who also received several gunshot wounds, was transported to the hospital. During the shooting, Rodger was in possession of three 9mm semi-automatic handguns—two Sig-Sauer P226 models, and one Glock 34 long-slide—as well as 34 loaded 10-round magazines for the Sig-Sauer, and seven 10-round magazines for the Glock. Sheriff Brown confirmed that all three weapons had been legally purchased prior to Rodger’s residential contact. “If the person has not been institutionalized or has not been taken against their will and put on a hold, then that information is not entered into a database and is not disqualifying information for purchasing a firearm legally,” he said. Next, Rodger drove to the IV Deli Mart on Pardall Road, where he reportedly exited his vehicle, entered the building, and sprayed multiple shots throughout the shop. Michael-Martinez received multiple gunshot wounds at this location, and died at the scene. Alyssa Hopper, a second-year philosophy major, was inside IV Deli Mart preparing for her transaction when the first shots were fired. “It’s such a blur,” she said, remembering that though she first felt confusion at what was occurring, she was “just scared” at the realization that someone was firing a weapon. Video footage from the shooting shows the glass windows of a refrigerator shattering behind her before she pulls out her cell phone to call the police. While Hopper was calling 911, “2 or 3” sheriffs arrived at IV Deli, where it became apparent that Michael-Martinez had sustained at least two wounds on his abdomen. They administered CPR to the victim before leaving the scene. “As they arrived,” the press release indicates, “deputies witnessed

Photos by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer

the subject, who they didn’t know at the time was the shooter, flee eastbound in his black BMW.” Sheriff Brown spoke generally on the police presence for Isla Vista that night. “We would have had what we call a normal deployment for Isla Vista on a Friday evening, and typically those are deployments that are beefed up from our other time periods,” he said. Hopper, who has been trained as a CPR first responder, administered CPR to the victim with another individual for “10 or 15 minutes” until an ambulance arrived. “I don’t know where the sheriffs went at that point–they left,” she said. “Some people say wrong place at the wrong time but, you know, it was just literally the wrong time to be out in IV in general. I did all I could to save him and I cant believe that he didn’t make it.” Rodger, driving his vehicle on the wrong side of the road, continued to the top of the Loop near Pizza My Heart and 7/11, where he fired multiple rounds at two people on the sidewalk, according to the news release. Then, moving eastbound to the 6500 block of Del Playa, he brandished his firearm at a female victim and fired additional rounds before turning westbound down DP. Rodger fired at a lone Sheriff’s deputy responding to the area by foot, but as the deputy returned fire, Rodger fled down DP, striking and injuring a bicyclist within the 6600 block. Traveling to the corner of Sabado Tarde and Camino Del Sur, Rodger “fired multiple shots at pedestrians,” injuring three. Turning eastward again, he shot another victim at the corner of Camino Pescadero before being confronted by “four Sheriff’s deputies running across Acorn Park in response to the shootings.” Three of the four officers exchanged gunfire with Rodger as he accelerated past them in his BMW,

A victim is loaded into an ambulance after the shootings in Isla Vista on May 23.

“striking the vehicle and shooting the suspect in his left hip area.” After striking another bicyclist and colliding with several parked cars, the vehicle came to a stop. “Responding deputies immediately removed Rodger from the car and handcuffed him,” the press release notes, but Rodger was dead by an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies uncovered an additional 400 rounds of ammunition in his possession. “I want to commend the deputy sheriffs who engaged very resolutely this suspect very shortly after we were notified of this incident,” said Sheriff Brown hours after the attack. “There’s no question in my mind at this point that their resolute actions and valor in doing so very well may have prevented further loss of life and injury.” Sheriff Brown also thanked the “allied agencies assisting in the investigation,” including UCPD, California Highway Patrol, District Attorney investigators, and criminalists from the Department of Justice Crime Lab. That same night, at around 12:30 a.m., around 12 heavily armed officers could be seen entering the Capri Apartments on Seville Road. This is presumably where first entry to Rodger’s residence was made, and his first three victims were discovered. “I think its really important to recognize that this type of incident could have occurred anywhere, that this is not does not appear to be tied to the community,” said Sheriff Brown. “In the days and weeks that follow there will be a very clearer picture of something that has turned out to be an all too common occurrence in our country, where someone who is obviously severely mentally disturbed resorts to extreme violence, and in the process, murders a significant number of innocent victims.”

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown fields questions at a press conference following the shootings on May 23.

A university police officer makes a call on his radio.

UCSB Womyn’s Commission Hosts Safe Space After Tragedy Through 2014 Womyn of Color Conference by Chloe Babauta STAFF WRITER The Associated Students Womyn’s Commission held the 2014 Womyn of Color Conference at the University of California, Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 24, to create a safe space for womyn of color to build solidarity and practice self-care. The conference was scheduled for the morning after the Isla Vista mass shooting, and as a result, the conference organizers adjusted the conference’s itinerary to meet the needs of attendees and workshop facilitators, many of whom were still in shock from the events of the previous night. Despite the tragedy, Womyn’s Commission continued to host the Womyn of Color Conference to provide a safe space for attendees to cope together. Womyn’s Commission Herstorian Cassie Rubio helped reorganize the conference under the circumstances of the recent tragedy. “Especially now, we cannot resort to isolation and wanting to be by ourselves,” Rubio said. “As hard

as this is, it’s so much easier to cope with it in a space with loved ones, so that’s why we had the conference.” Although the organizers had originally planned to host formal workshops, Womyn’s Commission Co-Chair Rosina Saeed said that they had to adjust the conference to have a more free-form and relaxed style. “You have to keep people’s mental health in consideration and go at their own pace,” said Saeed. “This space is for them, by them, so we went at our own pace instead of challenging formalities.” According to Womyn’s Commission, the conference originally anticipated 250 to 300 attendees. However, many guests and workshop facilitators felt unsafe going to the conference, so ultimately around 85 to 100 students attended. The conference began with an open dialogue for all attendees to voice their opinions about the tragedy of the previous night. Attendees took turns sharing their personal stories about where they were

during the shooting, how it had affected them, and their sentiments on the misogyny of the killing. Later, the conference continued onto the workshops which focused on issues that affect women of color, ranging from body image to reproductive justice. The workshops included topics such as “Whitewashed: Understanding the Colorism Standard of Beauty,” “Eating Disorders Do Not Discriminate,” “Womyn of Color in the STEM Fields,” and “Eco-feminism: The Crossroads of Environmentalism and Feminism.” Although the Womyn of Color Conference organizers had planned to host a wide range of workshops, many workshops were cancelled. Crystal Long, a secondyear global studies major, explained why she canceled her workshop “Tight Asian Pussy: Deconstructing Social Constructs of East and Southeast Asian Women’s Sexualities.” “I felt that a large congregation of women was not the safest idea at the moment,” said Long. “I also did not attend because my workshop

was on violence against Southeast Asian women, which was incredibly triggering and relevant.” However, the facilitators who proceeded to host their workshops found the conference productive and healing, including Anisha Ahuja, a third-year political science and feminist studies double major. “It was really nice to see all my friends safe and supporting each other,” said Ahuja. “As womyn of color, as people of color, I think we have faced levels of violence and trauma at an exponential level and we rarely have spaces to be together and heal with each other.” After three sessions of workshops, Mia McKenzie of the widely popular blog “Black Girl Dangerous,” gave the keynote speech. McKenzie wrote an improvised speech on the morning of the conference, to adjust to a more somber tone after the recent tragedy. The speech addressed issues that women of color, specifically, face—from dealing with misogynistic violence, to building solidarity to fight oppression and violence. McKenzie elaborated on the

importance of self-care in order to lead revolutionary movements. “As women of color, we’re almost never allowed to prioritize ourselves, our healing, or our wellbeing,” said McKenzie. “Tragedies like this remind us just how important it is that we invest in our emotional health and that we claim and reclaim space where we can build space.” After spoken word performances and caucus spaces following McKenzie’s speech, the conference ended earlier than originally planned. Despite the disarray due to the circumstances of the shooting, the conference’s organizers were satisfied with the outcome of the event. “It’s been beautiful and it’s been a privilege to watch people be with each other and see how they can help each other in this really difficult time,” Rubio said. “People know how to take care of each other; we’re not needed for that. They do that on their own, and that’s really beautiful because we’re just providing the space for them to do that.”

4 | PHOTO

TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

In Memorium Photo by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer

Candlelight Vigil, May 24, 2014

Photo by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer

Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer

Photo by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer

Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer

In memory of: George Chen, Katherine Cooper, James Hong, Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, David Wang, Veronika Weiss

TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 5

23rd Reel Loud Film Festival Develops with Adventure by Madison Donahue-Wolfe STAFF WRITER Embarking on the theme of “Choose Your Own Adventure,” the 23rd annual Reel Loud Film Festival took place at Campbell Hall on Friday, May 23. The festival showcased 14 silent films created by University of California, Santa Barbara students. The festival was preceded by an art show which featured an assortment of collages, landscapes, and portraits. Early-comers milled around outside Campbell Hall in the hour before the festival began, viewing the art, listening to the live jazz band, and posing for pictures in front of the adventure-themed canvas backgrounds. A red carpet led up to the theater, giving it a true film festival feel. Soft, colored lighting illuminated the art in front of Campbell Hall with a romantic glow. The formal attire worn by many of the film students also added to the Hollywood-like glamour. Parents, film majors, and UCSB students alike crowded into Campbell Hall, which quickly became packed with attendees eagerly awaiting the anticipated lineup of student films. A sense

of hushed excitement fell over the crowd as the lights dimmed and the show began. The festival began with an introductory short film and was met with eager applause from the audience. The mascot of Reel Loud, a figure dressed head to toe in a vintage diving suit, complete with brass helmet, rubber gloves, and a wizard’s cape, traveled far and wide. He met with characters from the short films, which would soon be shown, and handed them invitations to the festival. The short silent films followed each other in quick succession, with each film lasting anywhere from five to 10 minutes. The live musical accompaniment integrated with the silent films provided unique soundtracks and sound effects. The films ranged from comedies to subtle dramas, with title cards occasionally interjecting the films to provide insight into the plot, a trait typical of silent films from the early 20th century. Performances by UCSB a cappella group Naked Voices as well as UCSB Urban Dance provided entertainment during the festival’s two intermissions. The allocation of five awards succeeded the films. The awards include Best Editing, Best

Photo by Benjamin Hurst | Staff Photographer Moviegoers pose against a painted backdrop outside the Reel Loud film festival on May 23. Musical Accompaniment, Best Cinematography, Audience Choice, and Scott Wells Golden Reel. The Scott Wells Golden Reel award, was recently renamed from the Reel Loud Best Film award in honor of a UCSB Film Studies alum who passed away in 2012.

Thunderous applause followed each short film’s conclusion, with perhaps the most audience approval attributed to one film in particular, “A Man, A Mustache.” Directed by freshman film and media major Johnny Rafter, ”A Man, A Mustache” follows the plight of one young man who must decide between keeping his beloved mustache and kissing the girl of his dreams. The girl, put off by the man’s rather large mustache, tells him she will not kiss him until he shaves it off. Conflicted, the man nevertheless attempts to shave off the mustache, when all of a sudden it flies away from his face. The man then chases the mustache around town as it grows in size, and the film eventually culminates in a classic Western showdown. The film follows the characteristics of 20th century silent film most closely, with 1920s-era costumes and set design. “I think I came up with it [the story] in 10th grade in high school,” Rafter said. “It was just a little idea, like a runaway mustache, and one night my roommate Keenan and I were brainstorming and I pulled out the idea, we fleshed it out, and decided to do it for real life. It took

a few months to get the location, five days of shooting, and a couple days of editing.” To tumultuous approval from the audience, “”A Man, A Mustache“ was awarded the Scott Wells Golden Reel, as well as Audience Choice and Best Musical Accompaniment. Rafter also expressed excitement and surprise at receiving the Scott Wells Golden Reel award. “I’m really honored,” he said. “I didn’t expect it at all! It feels really good!” Several other films made note, such as fourth-year global studies major Bennett Piscitelli’s “You’re on Air,” which won Best Editing. Set in the KCSB radio studio, “You’re On Air” is about people who get turned into vinyl records, and whenever someone plays one of the records that used to be a person, they also turn into a record. Another memorable film was “X,“ directed by third-year film and media major Daisy Rogozinsky. “X,” shot in black and white, follows a woman struggling with the uncertainty of young love. “X“ was notable for its masterful cinematography, and later won the Best Cinematography award at the end of the festival.

Photo by Benjamin Hurst | Staff Photographer A jazz band entertains the crowd as they enter the Reel Loud film festival.

Improvability Collaborates with Cal Poly SLO’s Improv Group by Bailee Abell STAFF WRITER Every week, Improvability, the “premier comedy group” of the University of California, Santa Barbara, hosts their weekly improv comedy show at 8 p.m. in Embarcadero Hall. However, on May 23, approximately an hour and a half after the show began, a series of drive by shootings occurred nearby, resulting in seven fatalities and 13 injuries. As usual, numerous students were in attendance at the improv comedy show, in addition to adults and several children. Soon after getting word of the shooting, Improv-er Henry Raschke said, “We have an announcement,” before being urged not to disclose any information about the incident until after the show. As the crowd and I did not know what was going on outside the walls, I continued to pay attention as the show continued. The show, themed “UCSB vs. Cal Poly,” included students from Smile or Not, the student improv group at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. The show was organized as a competition between the two groups, in which Improvability would perform, then Smile or Not would follow (or vice versa). After each round of performances, the audience would vote on which group they thought was funniest. In several games, Improvability was able to integrate Smile or Not seamlessly into the

show. While most of the show involved the two teams competing to be deemed funnier, a few games called for every member’s participation, bridging the gap and uniting two schools who are, traditionally, rivals. The show was absolutely hilarious, with sketches including “Game Master,” in which one Improv-er dictates what another does, much like the narrator of a video game, and “Gaston,” a variation of the “Beauty and the Beast” song. Despite the tragedy, the show went on flawlessly, keeping the audience at bay and entertained until the night was through. When the performance finally ended and the audience began to rise from the seats to exit, Shelby Geitner announced that they were unable to allow us to leave the building, as there had been a shooting in Isla Vista, and Embarcadero Hall was now on lockdown. When chaos and tragedy struck Isla Vista that night, the members of Improvability managed to stay at ease. After a screening of the 2004 kid-friendly film, “Shark Tale”–which was supposed to be the prize for whomever won the competition– Improvability continued to entertain the audience with their variety of comedy games. This time, however, they called for audience participation, which made the experience of being kept indoors more comforting, as students were able to watch their friends act foolish onstage. Though the Isla Vista shootings occurred

while Improvability was still going on, the cast continued the show and was able to keep the audience at bay until we were given the all-clear to leave. Those who lives on campus were urged to return to their dorms, while those who lived in IV and were at Improvability that night were encouraged not to return home. Instead, they were directed to sleeping arrangements in Santa Rosa Hall

for the night. This incident exemplified the ability of students to come together to comfort not only their peers, but also local adults and even children, who were surprisingly calm despite the circumstances. Improvability’s performers are Gauchos first, comedians second, and they treated the horrific tragedy professionally with the most respect possible.

Photo by Neha Pearce | The Bottom Line Members of Cal Poly’s improv team, Smile and Nod, perform at Embarcadero Hall on May 23.

An Evening of Spoken Word Poetry with Ryan Yamamoto by Léna García

The funky walls of Muddy Waters Coffee House were packed tight on Thursday, May 22, as members of Santa Barbara’s vibrant spoken word community gathered for University of California, Santa Barbara MultiCultural Center’s quarterly poetry series, “An Evening of Spoken Word” with Ryan Yamamoto. The night opened on fire with Bridgette Kyeremateng, a UCSB first-year and eloquent spoken word artist. Unfazed by the blinding lights and the eager audience filled to the back of the room, Kyeremateng performed with passion and authority. In “Diary of a Mad Black College Woman,” she slammed about what it feels like to be the only black kid in an Anglo-American history class. Kyeremateng did not shy away

from speaking the uncomfortable, but rather opened dialogue about the racial stigmas she faces as a person of color. Her stage presence was inspiring and ended on an empowering note, saying, “The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice,” and she brought down the house. Next, UCSB’s own rising spoken word artist and featured poet of the night, Ryan Yamamoto, performed. His poetic flow was perfectly cadenced, self-deprecatingly funny, and uncensored, as though speaking among dear friends. Yamamoto brought out a crowd of UCSB students who proved good and lively company. To those in the audience whom he had yet to meet, especially first time spoken word attendees, he invited them to find him after the show and share what emotions his performance invoked. The evening was a celebration of the individual relationships we have to

multicultural roots. Ryan embraced complex feelings about race and culture through his poetry. After detailing his heritage in an opening piece spoken to his younger brother—Yamamoto is ¼ German, ¼ Italian, and ½ Japanese—he pierced the issue at heart. He said, “When did ethnicity ever become genre?” In a brief explanation of the piece, Ryan said he enjoys using his poetry as a tool to address and break down the social stigmas and fear surrounding race. A native of Oceanside, Calif., in the sprawling suburbs of San Diego County, Ryan shared the experience of being stereotyped for his race. Amid his smooth flow of childhood images, he slammed about well-off parents who looked down on the way he and his friends spoke. He owned it when he spoke about scoring higher on standardized tests than their kids. Ryan Yamamoto is resilient. He doesn’t give in to the stereotypes society

piles upon him. He referenced the tattoos on his arms as defining his identity-in-flux as a poet and hapa-american. Ryan had the audience in awe as he spoke about his passion for living and writing all of the life out of him. Many of Ryan’s poems are about time and its fleeting nature. He said, “Maybe we should all press pause,” and try to live more passionately and fervently, like our lives depend on the present moment. Yamamoto spoke strongly of highly esteemed filmmaker, visual artist, and spoken word performer Kip Fulbeck, who teaches the workshop class Art 137 Spoken Word. A class that helped him come into his own and discover a cool new and meaningful avenue of expression through spoken word poetry that is his driving passion in life. Yamamoto added that any UCSB senior who missed the chance to take it should “fail and come back in the fall so you can take it.”

TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

6 | SCIENCE & TECH

UCSB’s Montell Lab Discovers Role of Protein in Cell Migration by Mimi Liu STAFF WRITER The Denise Montell Lab at University of California, Santa Barbara has recently discovered that the protein E-cadherin plays an important role in cell migration, contrary to previously established ideas. Cell migration is a vital part of organism development and maintenance, and E-cadherin is commonly found in epithelial cells, a kind of animal tissue. Researchers at the Montell lab used fruit-fly ovaries to gain further understanding of E-cadherin’s exact role in directing cell migration. Established scientific knowledge explains that E-cadherin is supposed to hold cells together

and prevent cell migration. However, Professor Montell and her team have discovered the exact opposite–E-cadherin is actually promoting cell movement and motility. “It’s [promoting motility] in three different ways in three different parts of the cell,” Montell said. “In each spot in the cell, cadherin is doing something different and all of those functions together are to orchestrate the movement of cells.” Montell’s team used three different methods of observing Ecadherin-mediated migration, all with the same central goal of understanding how cells move. “This kind of motility is similar to what tumor cells do when they metastasize,” Montell said, “and it’s part of the normal development of

different tissues.” Lead cells, cells given directions by E-cadherin, were studied. They are seen to protrude slightly in the direction of travel, due to the force exerted on it by the protein. These lead cells have been observed to deliver instructions to cells close to it, ensuring that it behaves as a complete entity. Danfeng Cai, lead author and grad student in the Denise Montell Lab, suppressed the cadherin protein in different cell types and analyzed the differences in guided movement. When the protein was absent in cells, they could not migrate as a coherent group, and their movements became random. Another member of the lab developed an optical sensor similar to a tiny spring that could be

inserted into E-cadherin proteins to measure force exerted by it. Scientists found that though there was an even distribution of protein throughout the cell, the force per molecule was greater at the front. “It’s kind of amazing that you can make that measurement in living cells,” Montell said. Researchers also were able to create transgenic flies containing only E-cadherin molecules with optical sensors implanted. “This in vivo tension sensor could revolutionize the area of research that strives to elucidate the interplay between biochemical signals and mechanical forces during morphogenesis.” Montell said. “In contrast to other approaches that attempt to measure forces in tissues, such as laser cutting, this one

is non-perturbing.” This discovery is a step toward fully understanding cell migration, which is relevant in understanding tissue formation during embryonic development, wound recovery, and immune system responses. Errors during cell migration could lead to vascular disease, tumor formation, and metastasis–the spread of cancer from one organ to another location. “E-cadherin is serving multiple purposes, all of which function together to coordinate the collective ability of these cells to sense direction. Our work demonstrates three completely different approaches that all show the same result.” The group’s findings will be published in the scientific journal Cell.

Longitude Prize Revived to Solve World’s Biggest Problems by Judy Lau STAFF WRITER An inspirational and historic competition has been brought back this week. Announced with great excitement on Monday, May 19, the Longitude Prize offers the public a chance to decide which of the six major problems faced by the world today should be the focus of a £10 million competition to find a solution. Inspiration comes from the United Kingdom’s Longitude Act of 1714, which offered £20,000 (about £2.5 million today) to the first person who could calculate a ship’s position in open water within 30 miles, according to The Week. Solving this problem opened up new trade routes and improved overseas transactions. In 2014, however, the prize starts with an invitation to choose between six potential problems. There are six major issues facing humanity in the 21st century, including flight, food, paralysis, water, dementia, and

antibiotics. The public of the UK will decide which of these categories researchers and innovators will investigate. Flight focuses on how we can fly without damaging the environment. The UK is aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but air travel is hindering their success. If flight wins, the challenge will be to design a zero or close-to-zero carbon airplane that is capable of flying at comparable speeds to today’s aircraft. The second problem focuses on how we can ensure everyone has a sustainable supply of nutritious food. As the world’s population heads toward an estimated 9.6 billion in 2050, we must learn how to feed more people with better food at a lower cost. If this category wins the vote, the challenge will be to create the next big innovation that ensures nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food for all. “I would vote for food. Right now, many diseases and problems

have arisen due to lack of nutritious food,” said Christine Chen, a secondyear biology major. “For example, in Africa, many people are lacking vitamin A, and it’s causing a big health problem. Nutritious food is something that can make a big impact for a person’s health and well-being.” Paralysis focuses on how we can restore movement in humans. Doctors have been getting better at saving the lives of people with serious conditions, such as stroke victims, but this has led to a rise in the number of paralyzed people. If this issue is chosen, the challenge will be to invent a solution that can give these people freedom from their illness. Water targets the issue of safe and clean water for everyone. Much of the world’s water is too salty for agriculture or drinking, and one in every 10 people do not have access to safe drinking water. As demand grows and water reserves shrink, many are trying to develop a way to increase water supply while helping the environment. If water wins, the challenge

will be to create technology that provides sustainable and cheap water to those in need. “I would vote for water,” said Noah Dennis, a second-year physics major. “It’s always one of those topics we talk about when discussing third world countries, but it is a pressing issue everywhere around the world. Clean water is not a sustainable resource for every part of the world, but it should be.” Dementia focuses on helping people diagnosed with dementia to live independently for longer. As the world’s population lives longer, more people are developing dementia and becoming unable to care for themselves. If this category is chosen, the challenge will be to develop affordable technologies to improve care for people suffering for dementia. The final problem is antibiotics, and it focuses on preventing resistances to antibiotics. The evolution of viruses is threatening to make these medications ineffective, and we are currently unable to distin-

guish bacterial infections or types of bacteria that are causing the overuse of antibiotics. If this problem wins the vote, the challenge is to create an easy test for bacterial infections to pinpoint which treatments are needed for the patient. The prize money is substantial, but committee member Roger Highfield explained that there are more important reasons to enter. “It is not the money,” he wrote in the Telegraph, “though £10 million is certainly newsworthy. Nor is it the glory of being the first, or best, or most innovative. It will be the satisfaction of changing the world for the better, not just for the benefit of this generation but for the next.” Once the category is determined, the committee will finalize the terms of the challenge. Any competitors are allowed to enter after that. The committee predicts that it may take some time to come up with the winning idea; they do not expect to announce the winner until at least 2020.

Four Physicists Attempt to Turn Energy into Matter “ A golden cylinder with a vacuum inside–called a hohlraum, German for ‘hollow space’–houses X-rays that can reach temperatures of the sun.” by Adam Rubin Four United Kingdom scientists have published a paper detailing a way to turn energy into matter, bringing an 80-year thought experiment back to the lab. Researchers Oliver Pike, Felix Mackenroth, Edward Hill, and Steve Rose hope to formally begin experiments within the year. The execution is new, but the idea is not. In 1934, Gregory Breit and John A. Wheeler conceptualized the idea: theoretically, one could create particles with matter by sending photons (massless particles of light) through a strong enough electromagnetic field. This would be the simplest way to show Einstein’s famous equation. Without any way to prepare gamma rays capable of this effect, however, they never went further than the thought experiment. This new proposal uses modern fusion technology to circumvent the problem. A golden cylinder with a vacuum inside–called a hohlraum, German for ‘hollow space’– houses X-rays that can reach temperatures of the sun. Scientists plan to shoot a fine beam of photons into this cloud, hoping the two groups of photons will interact enough that there will be measurable particles coming out of the other end. If the experiment goes as planned, they will see electrons and positrons (which are electron’s antimatter opposite), and will have effectively created matter from energy. The experiment has in the past been run with two electron beams colliding together to make energy. In 1997, Stanford scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory were able to use electrons to make highenergy photons, which then collided enough

to make the electron-positron pairs expected. This 2014 proposal is the first that doesn’t use electrons to make electrons; in a sense, this is a purer experiment, as the interaction of energy into matter has never been directly observed in a laboratory. “The reason this is very hard to see in the lab is that you need to throw an awful lot of photons together–because the probability of any two of them interconverting is very low,” Rose explained to BBC News. This is ultimately more of a technology experiment than a physics one,” said Banjamon Monreal, an assistant professor in University of California, Santa Barbara’s High Energy Experimental Physics area. “I mean, there’s no new physics being done. It’s essentially a cute application of already existing technology.” When asked why news articles were so intent on presenting this finding as a “race to discovery,” Monreal replied, “Well, there’s labs in France and Rochester and Livermore that are all essentially competing to be the best laser lab. So there’s a bit of a race in getting to be the first to discover the procedure, and then actually carry it out.” As with all funded research, Monreal said there are multiple reasons for an experiment to happen. One teammate may like the future fusion applications, another may especially enjoy work with lasers. For Monreal, the most interesting aspect is the potential knowledge we’ll gain about plasma wakefield accelerators, the part that can get these photon beams to a high enough speed to be useful. “More effective accelerators,” said Monreal, “could eventually allow us to fit large experiments like CERN into a space on our own campus. To me, that has the most powerful potential to change the world.”

TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

OPINIONS | 7

STAFF EDITORIAL Coming together as a community in the wake of tragedy

There isn’t much left to say at this point. By the time this letter is in print, it will have been nearly a week since Isla Vista was rocked to its core. And while the dust has slowly begun to settle, anyone can tell you that the collective hearts and minds of all residents, UCSB students or not, continue to stay with the seven community members who were needlessly taken from us. There has been much of discussion among us here at The Bottom Line, and as a student news organization, we have attempted to make sense of our role in the coverage of this tragedy. But it is as Gauchos that we speak now. And seeing as there has been far more than enough said about the horrendous event itself, our words go out to the community of Isla Vista instead. Over the past few days, we have witnessed some of the most beautiful acts of kindness and respect imaginable. The candlelight vigil was not only immensely

symbolic because of what it meant to our campus, but because it was answered by vigils held at several other University of California campuses, demonstrating how all UC students are ready to stand in solidarity with one another. Vigils were even held in locations where UCSB students had gone—and still are—abroad, such as Granada, Spain. There has been an entire week planned with activities meant to strengthen the bonds of the Isla Vista community. Professors and faculty used the day of cancelled classes to reach out to students in need and enter the difficult discussions of the week with them. Activists have made their presence known at the media hotspots, trying to create a quiet, peaceful space for those affected to grieve and heal. What the people of this town have done is remarkable, honoring those lost and the community that lost them instead of glorifying the actions of the person who set out to destroy that community.

That being said, it’s unlikely that this will be where the discussion ends. As we have already seen, this tragedy will be used in the discourse of issues like gender violence, gun rights, and mental health. There will be coverage that is appropriate and sensitive, and there will be coverage that is not. But it is our job as Gauchos and as residents of Isla Vista to keep the focus on those we have lost; for the true news story here is not about a killer, or even about a gun. It is about the people who mean the most to us, and how we will forever cherish those who have left us and become closer to the ones that are still here. Isla Vista is still a beautiful place populated with beautiful people. We are incredibly proud of our fellow students and friends for what they have done in the face of something so appalling, and all of our thoughts and feelings join with you in memoriam. Let’s show the world how strong this community is.

Not So Fresh Off The Boat But Finally In The Media by Andrea Vallone STAFF WRITER With sites like Netflix and HBOGo giving us series such as “Game of Thrones,” “House of Cards,” and “Orange is the New Black,” the modern citizen has no choice but to stay in on a Friday night (or Sunday for all you GOTers) and binge watch TV with all of their “friends.” What we don’t realize is that whatever show we have chosen to tickle our fancy also subconsciously tickles our perspective and understanding of certain social groups and races. It can happen either with the presence of a race and how their character is portrayed (personality, occupation, social status in the show), or the complete absence of a race. This coming fall, there are five new shows greenlighted with Asian-American leads–a phenomenon that hasn’t occurred for 20 years. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Bringing Asian-Americans to the foreground could incite appreciation for the fastest growing race or ethnic group in America (as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau). Or, depending on how they’re portrayed, could further unfavorable stereotypes that have littered our society. Twenty years ago in 1994, the show “AllAmerican Girl,” starring Margaret Cho, aired on ABC. It presented America with a KoreanAmerican family, but was unfortunately cancelled after one year. But this may not have been such a bad thing; TV stations had swung and missed with this promising inclusion of Asian-Americans into our media consciousness by portraying this family as even more exotic and foreign–and the butt of every joke. Moreover, the show blurred lines between different Asian American identities and offered a haphazard portrayal of Korean American families. NPR reported the five greenlighted shows for fall, all of which have Asian-

“

John Cho’s role in “Selfie” could easily be played by an actor of any other race; like CBS’s new detective shows, this show is encouragingly placing AsianAmericans in interchangeable roles, habituating viewers to see Asian-Americans as another type of American, and not just Asian.

American leads, bringing TV stations up to bat once more. In ”Selfie,” produced by ABC, John Cho (Harold & Kumar, anyone?) plays a marketing specialist for a social media star. CBS will air three detective shows with AsianAmerican leads, one of which stars Maggie Q (Nikita). One show in particular that has made waves in the TV grapevine is ABC’s “Fresh off the Boat,” a series based on chef Eddie Huang’s memoir in which he notes his life as being the child of Taiwanese parents growing up in the U.S. during the ‘90s.

”

Racial stereotypes in popular, widespread shows–such as Koothrapali in “The Big Bang Theory,” Mike Chang in “Glee,” or Gloria in “Modern Family”–have gotten laughs for embodying their stereotypes fully. This is a risky move, as it may further perpetuate stereotypes. However, there is some underlying agency wherein the characters, by laughing at themselves, are effectively circumventing the one-way point-and-laugh race jokes. However, embodying stereotypes on the whole, although it may generate laughs,

should not be the only way to normalize racial diversity on TV. Hopefully, this will not be the case for this fall. It seems each new show has something to do with detectives and crime, adding some Asian faces into the mix will help to bring variety into the white-male detective duo dynamic–without having to spell out that a character is Asian. John Cho’s role in “Selfie” could easily be played by an actor of any other race; like CBS’s new detective shows, this show is encouragingly placing Asian-Americans in interchangeable roles, habituating viewers to see Asian-Americans as another type of American, and not just Asian. Huang’s “Fresh off the Boat” comes at a different angle but will still do great things for Asian-American presence in TV. By titling the show “Fresh off the Boat,” the producers engage in a sort of cultural subversion that uses a derogatory phrase as a sign of braggadocio. Moreover, the experiences on the show are unique to Huang and his Taiwanese-American family, and it doesn’t try to blanket Asian-Americans. The title and the outrageous characters are an attempt to depict how Asian-Americans are exactly that: American, but also with their own stories. Jeff Yang from the Wall Street Journal told NPR that the show is an “embrace of a refusal to just thoroughly assimilate.” The light at the end of the media’s AsianAmerican false representation tunnel should not just extend to Asian-Americans. Principal Figgins from “Glee”; every greasy-haired, scar-faced Latino in “CSI: Miami”; and the complete absence of any African-Americans in “Friends” pay just a small tribute to the heinous representation (or lack thereof ) of races on U.S. TV networks. The progress for Asian-Americans is promising this fall, but it shouldn’t stop there. Things are looking up for the representation for Asian-Americans in mainstream TV–let’s just hope it’s a home run this time.

THE LOSS OF A LEADER Jill Abramson and the Fight for Gender Equality by Isabelle Geczy STAFF WRITER The unceremonious firing of New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson this past week reminded women across the nation how far women have come—and how far we have left to go. Abramson was the first woman to hold the most senior editorial position at the Times, and her firing was met with a barrage of commentary and press. At the center of the media whirlwind remains a question with an elusive answer: was Abramson fired for her leadership style, or because she challenged male superiors upon learning she was paid significantly less than her predecessor? The answer, unfortunately, makes little difference in the fight for gender equality. The problem, moreover, is the ridiculous media conversation as a whole. As the executive editor for one of the U.S.’s most acclaimed journalistic institutions for nearly two and a half years, Abramson was credited with making great strides for the paper’s content, especially in terms of making a traditionally print medium successful in the digital age. Little good that did her, when conflict arose between her and the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger. In a series of disputes that have been meticulously analyzed over the past two week, Sulzberger had several points of contention with Abramson, enough that they warranted her dismissal. One such conflict stemmed from the fact that Abramson found evidence that she was being paid less than her male predecessor, and upon discovering the inequity, hired a lawyer. The story, though, has only gotten more depressing as it has developed. Two media camps have emerged, with one side questioning Abramson’s leadership style, using a 2013 Politico profile by Dylan Byers for support, which stated that anonymous Times staffers found her to be “condescending,” “difficult,” and “unreasonable.” Others, however, believe she

is being publically maligned for being a woman in power who stepped on more than a few male toes. The polarization of this situation is unfortunate, because her firing is symptomatic of a more nuanced problem that demands attention: in this country, there are not enough women in positions of power. The Times is 163 years old, and Abramson was the first woman to hold the position of executive editor. Her ascent to such a powerful spot was heralded as a mighty and overdue step forward for women across the country and the world. This makes the circumstances of her firing are all the more

feathered, and arguably she has been just as revolutionary. Abramson’s commitment to integrating print with online media at the Times has been hailed by many as a great success which continues to sustain the institution. Her changes to the editorial board and bureaus, too, were seen as completely novel and fresh choices. In addition, in 2013, through the hiring of a host of vibrant female journalists, Abramson was able to finally achieve the feat of having as many women editors as men in the highest editorial positions. She changed the Times in completely dynamic ways, and instead of

Was Abramson fired for her leadership style, or because she challenged male superiors upon learning she was paid significantly less than her predecessor? unacceptable, with her leadership style being dragged through the mud in such a public fashion. Regardless of the conflicts that led to her firing, it seems that a sort of sexist glee has been perpetuated in commentaries following the event, with Abramson being caricatured as a tyrannical leader who was hard to work with. Had she been a man, would her leadership style have even been questioned in the public sphere so heavily after her firing? Take, for instance, the manner in which Steve Jobs and his legacy have been handled in the media. The unfortunate circumstances of his passing aside, Jobs was and still is constantly lauded for being a visionary and strong leader. His legacy spawned not only a bio-epic, but also a film homage replete with a cast of Hollywood stars. Sure, he was mildly criticized by some for being difficult to work with, but never to the extent that Abramson has been tarred and

receiving the commendation she is due, she was fired and dragged through the mud. Abramson, to many young and old, is a hero. She proved to young women that with drive, passion, and hard work, one can achieve and thrive. For this reason, the spectacle of her dismissal has only signaled how much ground must still be covered by women in order to be treated as men’s equals. With this in mind, it is salient to note that one of the most effective ways to combat discrimination such as this is to have more representation of the oppressed minority group. Truly, that is what Abramson was at the Times. She was positive proof that women could and would be the top leader in an organization once seen as a “boys club.” She signaled that the times were, in fact, changing. Her departure casts a long shadow over progress once made.

TBL | May 28-June 3, 2014

8 | OPINIONS

We Gaucho Back: by Isabelle Geczy

Unity in Tragedy

Friday night, week eight. The normal flurry of midterms and essays had passed, with only the last push of finals ahead in our futures. Many of us were just trying to recover from a long week when the shooting started. At first, it sounded like fireworks—a common occurrence in Isla Vista—but as the sirens began to blare, and more pop!pop!pop! noises came, the unease settled in. Over the next few hours, frantic messages and calls were made and received, as we all tried to account for and warn our loved ones about the gruesome events. As the hours wore on, more information began to emerge, but we were only scratching the surface of the horror. News crews arrived, commodifying our tragedy in highdefinition detail. Bullet holes marred the fronts of our favorite storefronts. More information was slowly released, and we agonizingly learned the names of the six victims. Friends, traumatized, described seeing brutal violence, and hiding in backrooms huddled behind counters. We held a vigil, beautiful and powerful, but during the moment of silence, the clicks of camera shutters were deafening. Through all of it though, our community has rallied together to hold one another up. Our professors, teaching assistants,

academic advisors, and faculty have reached out in ways that have reminded us of our unity. Alumni have reached out from all over, including Michael Douglas sending his condolences while wearing a University of California, Santa Barbara hoodie. Even our sister campuses have rallied for us, with every single UC campus in session holding solidarity vigils for us and those we are mourning. However, this all does not belie the fact that our strong, supportive community has been forever changed. On May 23, 2014, irreparable violence and devastation was enacted against our homes, friends, and states of mind. The 24 hour news coverage will stop, and so will the trending hashtags and Tumblr responses, but the memories of loss and betrayal will not fade so quickly for us. That’s the honest truth that we all must bear—this tragedy happened in the community we love, against people we love—and we will be the ones that will live with it. To paraphrase the cutting and concise words of Christopher Michael-Martinez’s brave father, you don’t think it will happen to you, until it does. And it has happened, Gauchos. We are all living through a certain fresh hell, and must recognize that to make it through we will need to support each other more than ever. As college students, many of us are just beginning to

experience life and its many facets. Some of us are fortunate, in that we have not yet had to use the vocabulary associated with grief, because we have not yet experienced the death of someone dear. As a community it is important that we recognize and truly support those who were close to the victims. We will grieve our loss together, and reach out and hold those who lost their friends, mentors and partners. We will honor them in the purest forms we can, by remembering all of the beauty they brought into our lives. As we all come to grips with this brutality, we must, above all, remember ourselves, and our community. At our candlelit vigil, we placed candles in our repurposed red cups, because if there is a symbol of commemoration for us Gauchos, the red cup certainly is it. We will need to commemorate in the coming weeks, and we will need to be aware of the trauma we have all experienced. Our community was visited by a tragedy, and the recovery process will be a long road. It is said that grief and grieving would look like a corkscrew if plotted on a graph, with one axis representing sadness and the other time. As time goes on, one’s sadness can decrease, but it can also increase, with the grieving process creating circular spirals graphically. We are certainly spiraling at the moment, Gauchos. In recognition of it though, only healing will be able to finally come through.

Navigating Isla Vista’s Recent Tragedy as a Student Photojournalist by Mark Brocher As an amateur photojournalist, never has any story I was covering affected me so profoundly and deeply as the Isla Vista shootings. For me, the story began right away at 9:27 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2014. I was in my apartment when I first heard the shots a block away at the corner of Embarcadero Del Norte and Segovia Road. Like everyone else, I thought they were just fireworks. But to be safe, I started getting my camera equipment ready. When I heard sirens, I knew something very serious had happened. Racing out of my apartment, I arrived at the Alpha Phi sorority house roughly 10 minutes after the shooting, where I witnessed Santa Barbara Sheriff ’s deputies and University of California Police Department officers with their guns drawn. That is when I saw what looked like bodies lying on the lawn of the sorority house, with a police officer desperately giving first aid to one of the victims. With my camera, I snapped a few photos of the scene and then left. It was not until later that night, after

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editing my photos, that the gravity of what I had witnessed became apparent. My photos captured the immediate aftermath of Elliot Rodgers’ rampage and his brutal murder of 19-year-old Veronika Weiss and 22-year-old Katie Cooper. Immediately, I wondered what I was supposed to do with these photos, and asked the editorial staff of The Bottom Line newspaper for their input. It was decided the photos had no journalistic merit and that their publication would be disrespectful to the family and friends of the victims. However, this decision put me in strange position: I was both one of the few witnesses to the crime scene and a photojournalist. It also left me confused and conflicted, and I could not help but wonder whether publishing photos of a tragedy is ever justifiable. This question came up again on Saturday, May 24, outside the Capri Apartments at 6598 Seville Road. It was there that I witnessed members of Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Office removing bodies from the killer’s apartment. Unlike the previous night, the anonymity of the victims was maintained by black body bags.

Photos by Mark Brocher | Staff Photographer

At a press conference later that day at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’s headquarters, I asked for input from my fellow journalists. Greg Nichols, 2006 alumni of the University of California, Santa Barbara, had driven up from Los Angeles early in the morning to cover the story. He mentioned the famous “Falling Man” photo taken by Richard Drew of a man jumping from the burning World Trade Center buildings on 9/11, and how poignantly and dramatically it represented the terrible events of that day. Nichols also stressed the importance of respecting the families and friends of the victims as well–my question was a difficult one. I believe I received an answer to my question on Sunday, May 25, after I posted a photo to my Instagram account of grieving students at the vigil. Immediately, someone recognized the people in my photo and tagged them. About two hours later, one of the women tagged commented, admonishing me for posting a photo of her mourning. Never before has the subject of one of my photos ever contacted me, let alone responded to a particular photo I took. More importantly, never have I felt worse for simply doing my job.

As a photojournalist, I have an ethical responsibility to take photos that accurately and objectively portray events as they happened, without censorship. However, I also understand I have an obligation to “Treat all subjects with respect and dignity,” in the words of the National Press Photographers Association. There is a thin line between the crass exploitation of a tragedy–where the dignity and respect of victims are ignored for profit– and ethically defensible journalism. I am having difficulty reconciling my responsibilities as both a resident of Isla Vista and a photojournalist. I want to accurately report the news, because to omit details is to do a disservice to the innocent victims of this tragedy. At the same time, I also want to respect wishes of the families and friends of those victims, who want nothing more than privacy in their moment of grief. Having followed this story since the start, I still have more questions than answers. The one thing I do know is that our community of Isla Vista is strong and resilient in the face of unspeakable tragedy, and that together, we can overcome any obstacle.

A crowd of media representatives swarms around Richard Martinez (right), father of slain UCSB student Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez.

I want to accurately report the news, because to omit details is to do a disservice to the innocent victims of this tragedy. At the same time, I also want to respect wishes of the families and friends of those victims, who want nothing more than privacy in their moment of grief.