Spring 2019, Issue 1 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

APRIL 10, 2019

VOLUME VIII, ISSUE XVII

THE

WARM

UP A&E

PAGE 6

Photo by JUAN GONZALEZ | Photo Editor

LIBRARIAN CONTRACTS After months of negotiation, UCOP announced that it had reached an agreement with UC-AFT regarding UC librarian salaries.

NEWS | PAGE 2

I.V. PASTOR SPEAKS OUT Isla Vistaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University United Methodist Church reaffirms LGBTQ rights after the denomination voted to maintain its stance against same-sex marriage.

NEWS | PAGE 3

BottomLineUCSB.com

New Librarian Contract

SIGNALS PROGRESS for Union JACOB WONG | National Beat Reporter

n Thursday, March 28, the UC Office of the President (UCOP) announced that the University had reached an agreement with the University Council-American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) on a new proposed contract for librarians employed within the system. “The university and UC-AFT worked collaboratively at the bargaining table to reach a contract that is fair to both sides and recognizes our librarians’ contributions and dedication,” stated Dwaine B. Duckett, UC’s vice president of systemwide human resources, in a press release. The contract has since been approved by union members, confirmed UCOP spokesperson Sarah McBride in an email to The Bottom Line. The announcement comes following months of negotiations between UC-AFT, which represents librarians and non-Senate faculty throughout the UC system, and UCOP over a new collective bargaining agreement after the previous one had expired last September. Talks between the two parties had stalled due to disagreements over librarian pay. Chief among UC-AFT’s concerns was the disparity in pay and other benefits provided to designated University Librarians compared to rank-and-file campus librarians and library employees. UC-AFT highlighted this imbalance in an article posted last Oc-

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tober by pointing to a recent 8.9 percent salary increase given to Elizabeth Cowell, the University Librarian for UC Santa Cruz. On the same day, the University had proposed a series of small raises for campus librarians amounting to a nine percent total increase over the next four years. “Something’s wrong with a public university system that rewards University Librarians and other library administrators with cumulative average pay increases of 32 percent over the last five years, while the last contract for rank-and-file librarians only guaranteed eight percent,” states the article. The new contract agreement addresses UC-AFT’s concerns by providing campus librarians annual three percent salary increases effective July 2019 to July 2023; health benefits at comparable rates to those received by UC employees with similar salaries; and a new Retirement Choice Program that allows newly hired librarians to choose between the UC’s traditional pension plan and a 401(k) style plan. Along with the pay raises and increased benefits, union member Gary Hillis pointed out that UC-AFT scored another victory in the new contract with the addition of policies protecting UC librarians’ academic freedom. Hillis, a professor of Religious Studies at UCSB, pointed out that UCOP had a history of denying campus librarians academic freedom protections, which prevent employees from being fired or disciplined for their research

or the subject matter that they teach. UC-AFT acknowledged this as well in a release summarizing the contract agreement, writing, “Union member activism and massive public backlash against UCOP’s stated denial of academic freedom for librarians led UCOP to commence a policy-making process to address academic freedom rights and responsibilities for all academic appointees.” “That was a big symbolic win,” said Hillis. “It didn’t add any cash value, but it was an important status for the librarians to enjoy.” While the new contract can be seen as a victory for the union in some areas, Hillis made it clear that other aspects of the agreement left much to be desired. One such area is funding for professional development. “The union went in asking for an increase in professional development funds, but they received nothing,” he said. The UC-AFT summary corroborates Hillis’s point of view, stating, “UCOP insisted their salary proposal was the limit of the University’s economic resources, and refused to increase PD (professional development) amounts.” The UC’s treatment of temporary contract librarians, another major point of contention between the two parties throughout the negotiations, also saw little improvement under the new contract. “[Temporary contract librarians] have no protections, they receive minimal benefits, and they

don’t get any credit towards a continuing position,” said Hillis. “One of the things the union really wanted to win was more protection for the temporary appointments, but they were not able to win that. That was one of the concessions they made.” Ultimately, as Hillis himself stated, the give-and-take nature of the contract agreement is just a facet of the negotiation process itself.

“UCOP played hardball,” said Hillis. “They were not very flexible/receptive to most of the proposals that the union librarians gave, but in the end they did make pretty significant concessions on the salary side and other things.” “The thing about negotiations is you go in asking for everything you can, even though you know you’re not going to get everything. If you don’t demand enough, then you won’t get enough.”

“Something’s wrong with a public university system that rewards University Librarians and other library administrators with cumulative average pay increases of 32 percent over the last five years, while the last contract for rank-and-file librarians only guaranteed eight percent.”

I.V. Pastor Speaks out Against Methodist Church

BAN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

AND LGBTQ CLERGY ALONDRA SIERRA | Isla Vista Beat Reporter

sla Vista’s University United Methodist Church community spoke out against the Methodist ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy after the denomination voted to maintain its traditional stance. In late February, 53 percent of United Methodist Church (UMC) officials voted to affirm the church’s original opposition to same-sex marriage and allow LGBTQ clergy during their General Conference Meeting in St. Louis. Currently, many UMC ministers officiate same-sex marriages and approve of LGBTQclergy despite the ban; this new ruling would enforce a stricter punishment for churches in violation. “I think it is a travesty,” said Andrew Rowberg, a third year materials science Ph.D student at UC Santa Barbara who has been actively involved with the United Methodist Church (UMC) since his undergraduate years. After hearing the results of the conference, local University UMC Pastor Frank Schaefer was also frustrated, but not the least bit surprised. He took to Facebook the following day, affirming his church-

es support for LGBTQ rights: “We will continue to welcome and support our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, we will affirm and encourage their calling into the ordained ministry, and we will continue to offer same-sex marriage!” As a long-time outspoken activist for LGBTQ rights within the church and proud father of three gay sons, Pastor Frank supported the “One Church Plan” that would have allowed each individual church to make their own decision on LGBTQ inclusion. Instead, the denomination opted for “The Traditional Plan,” a route widely believed by liberal ministers and LGBTQ supporters to cause a divide within the church. Pastor Frank calls this a “splinter” which would lead to not one division, but three, four, or five splits within the “united” church. Although his church will continue to support its LGBTQ community, Pastor Frank worries about the message this non-inclusive decree will send to its current LGBTQ members — one-third of his church. He believes the ban will only further the risk that the LGBTQ

community faces on a daily basis, a harm he has witnessed on a personal level: his eldest gay son almost committed suicide for religious tenets surrounding homosexuality. Rowenberg, too, described his frustration with the ban that defies his own religious beliefs. “If we as Christians accept that God makes all people in his image,” said Rowenberg, “discrimination against individuals who were, like those in the LGBTQ community, born a certain way makes absolutely no sense, and yet, here we are.” Rowenberg, along with Pastor Frank, also believe the denomination’s decision to remain traditional on sexuality will only affirm suspicions that younger groups have towards religion as a whole. Vivian Peck, a third year environmental studies major, has been a member of the University United Methodist Church for over two years. As a supporter of LGBTQ rights, Peck was shocked by the ban, but remains faithful to her church’s inclusion. “I am very disappointed in this decision, but I do not think it will change my experience as a member of the UMC,” Peck said.

“Because the church members that I know ... are brave, resilient and have the utmost integrity to continue to include people regardless of their background.” Similarly, Pastor Frank reiterated his church’s support for the LGBTQ community in a blog post. “It’s still heartbreaking to think that some of our LGBTQ

children will grow up in non-inclusive Methodist churches,” he wrote, “but at least they can find out that there is a large part of Methodism where they are fully accepted, welcomed, and supported in their sexual orientation or identity.”

“We will continue to welcome and support our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, we will affirm and encourage their calling into the ordained ministry, and we will continue to offer same-sex marriage!” - Pastor FRANK SCHAEFER

Opinions expressed in TBL do not necessarily represent those of the staff or UCSB. All submissions, questions or comments may be directed to editors@bottomlineucsb.com Features Editor | Victoria Penate Arts & Entertainment Editor | Addison Morris Science & Tech Editor | Hannah Maerowitz Opinions Editor | Jessica Gang Video Editor | Fabiola Esqueda Advertising Director | Tanya Gosselin Marketing Director | Erica Kaplan

Web Editor | Docean Park Layout Editor | Elaine Chen Pages: 4, 5, 6

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NEWS | 3

New Goldie’s Boutique is Very BUDGET FRIENDLY JADE MARTINEZ-POGUE

Isla Vista’s newest destination for your fashion fix is centrally located on the busy street of Pardall. Photos by Jade Martinez-Pogue | The Bottom Line

oldie’s is located at the heart of Pardall Road, marking the fourth location of the budget-friendly clothing boutique. The shop features a variety of women’s clothing options as well as accessories, and even some beauty supplies. The nostalgic sound of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” echoed as I walked into the pastel-painted clothing store newest to Isla Vista. Upon walking into the store, one can see white metal clothing racks lining the walls. These racks are stuffed with denim shorts, overalls, swimsuits, dresses, and even formal wear. The visual focus of the store is a big wooden table, highlighting the stores large jewelry selection.

4 | FEATURES

This table sits upon a vibrant orange and pink patterned rug which complements the modern gold lamps on the ceiling, creating a sense of warmth that carries throughout the store. The warm decor of the boutique accompanied by the friendly faces of student employees who greet you as you walk in make for a calming atmosphere in the midst of all the hectic traffic that flows through Pardall. According to store manager Andrea Dornbusch, the owner’s of Goldie’s jumped at the opportunity to open an Isla Vista location for the store. “When the owners were looking at Isla Vista to bring the shop to, they found that I.V. could use a super fun, budget-friendly

clothing boutique,” she said in an interview with The Bottom Line. “So, when they found the shop, they jumped in and went for it.” The shop’s mission is to cater to those who love fashion but seek a decent price, says Dornbusch. With prices in the store ranging anywhere from $9 to $80, Goldie’s achieves this in giving Isla Vista residents a convenient and wallet-friendly place to shop. “We want to bring great fashion for a great price, but also bring it to the students so that don't have to go downtown to get a top for the weekend or for the next party,” Dornbusch said. While some items may be considered relatively pricey, such as some plain t-shirts which retail at $22, other clothing items are

very reasonably priced for their quality. For example, a more formal dress was marked at a stunningly low $32. Compared to the few other clothing stores in Isla Vista, Goldie’s has the most widely affordable prices for the quality of clothing. The shop also only stocks limited amounts of each carefully chosen item, ensuring unique and stylish clothing to every customer. This makes for a personal experience when shopping at Goldie’s, further enhancing its welcoming and inviting quality. Dornbusch explains that all four of the Goldie’s locations hope to reach out to anyone from the ages of 18 to 30 years old, but that this particular location has been tailored to the style and cul-

ture already present in Isla Vista. “We love the vibe of Isla Vista, and we are excited to see what we can do for the students here at UCSB,” said Dornbusch. While most of the clothing is in a more casual style, the store makes sure to include other options such as formalwear, making them a spot to check out when looking to put together an outfit for any occasion. “I think our hope is that we would be a good help to the community of Isla Vista, that people would find what they are looking for- from a dress for a day party to a cute weekend outfit, or even something for the wedding they have to go to back home,” Dornbusch said.

FLY INTO THE FAIRY VILLAGE AT THE SB MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY JESSICA REINCKE | Staff Writer

ince the butterflies in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s beloved Sprague Butterfly Pavilion cannot stay year round, the museum has transformed the area into a temporary, collaborative exhibit called Fairy Village. In order to encourage the community to interact with this space, the museum is encouraging visitors to create little houses to add to the core Fairy Village exhibit. Entry to the space is included with regular museum admission, and anyone is allowed to participate as long as they follow the fairy housing code. Fairy Village’s designer and contractor, Simon Allen, explained in an interview with The Bottom Line that the idea of community engagement with the museum was partly inspired by popular response to a contribution of his own. Six years ago, Allen hid a garden gnome in the — then temporary — butterfly pavilion when he served as the butterfly exhibit’s manager. “Somehow, spontaneous-

ly, people started bringing in gnomes, and by the time we tore the exhibit apart, there were hundreds of gnomes hidden around — and nobody knows how it started,” Allen said. This spontaneous involvement offered promising opportunities for future collaboration with community members. Once the pavilion became a permanent structure, Allen and the other members of the Fairy Village team decided that they would build a core village, hoping that visitors would come and contribute to the outskirts. Fairy Village has been met with similar enthusiasm and engagement as the spontaneous gnome project. Community members have started blogs to organize little house construction, and some visitors have even created houses on site using the natural materials found around the museum. Allen explained that, from the beginning, his intent for this exhibit was to “think like a fairy,” and this included the consid-

eration of what house-building materials fairies would have access to. This led to the decision to limit the type of materials used to only natural materials. The decision to have houses made from natural materials is also fitting since the exhibit resides in a natural history museum. Allen described the biodegradable nature of the houses as a sort of “nature-back-to-nature situation.” When asked about his hopes for this exhibit, Allen said that he feels he and his team have achieved a great deal. “I think we achieved our goal, which was to get people involved, and get them in the pavilion,” Allen stated. While it is possible that Fairy Village could become a seasonal exhibit, there is no guarantee that it will return. The installation will, however, be around until April 28 — so visitors are encouraged to contribute their creations soon before the opportunity flies away.

Community members have already made several colorful and creative contributions to the new Fairy Village installation. Photos by Jessica Reincke | Staff Writer

FEATURES | 5

TROYBOI BRINGS THE HEAT WITH THE WARM UP VANESSA SU | Staff Writer

tarting off the spring quarter of 2019 with a bang, UCSB’s AS Program Board invited TroyBoi as the main act and JPEGMAFIA as the opener for the Warm Up, an annual nighttime concert after the daytime festivities of Deltopia. British producer and musical artist TroyBoi, who just finished a sold-out European tour, blessed UCSB’s student population with a concert set including a mixture of old favorites and new creations and Baltimore-native JPEGMAFIA, an up-and-coming rapper and producer known for his political lyrics and experimental noise style tracks, opened for the

DJ.

2015 to pursue a music career. Bleeding” and “Real Nega” from Starting in the early 2010s, He has worked with artists such his Veteran album that was reTroyBoi started experimenting as Denzel Curry, Kennybeats, leased on January of 2018 which with trap sounds and electron- and Clipping. and is known for ranked 20th on The Rolling ic beats. He eventually released his tracks with noise influences as Stone’s 30 Best Hip-Hop Albums collaborations with artists such well as political messages. of 2018 list. Despite him being as Flosstradamus, Diplo, and An area often used for AS a relatively new artist to the hip Billie Eilish, to name a few. He Program Board events, the Thun- hop scene, JPEGMAFIA’s endless currently has released two full derdome allowed students to en- energy and enthusiasm for peralbums and is a highly anticipat- joy the show with the option to forming drove the crowd wild as ed favorite at annual events such either sit higher on the bleachers they chanted his lyrics along with as Coachella, EDC, and Electric for a more spacious environment, him. Forest. After JPEGMADuring his FIA’s performance AUTHOR’S RECOMMENDED SONGS: and an intermission time in the miliOn My Own (feat. Nefera) by TroyBoi tary, JPEGMAFIA of 15 minutes or so, 1539 N. Calvert by JPEGMAFIA formed a group in TroyBoi eventually Tokyo called Ghostsauntered on stage, pop that gained local popularity or stand up close to the stage for triggering a loud cheer from the before moving to Baltimore in a closer look at the performances. crowd. From the beginning to the A fully sold-out show, the Warm end of his performance, the enUp clearly had been an event tire crowd grooved to his music, the audience had been looking regardless of whether they were forward to as the crowd started familiar with his tracks. Throughchanting “TroyBoi” over and over out the entire performance, while awaiting for him to grace a contagious energy surged the stage. throughout the crowd and to the An hour or so into the Warm crowd’s delight, TroyBoi’s perforUp’s start time, the crowd started mance mainly centered on his growing restless for JPEGMA- older tracks such as “Do You?,” FIA to open the show. Eventu- “KinjaBang,” and “Soundclash.” ally, he sprinted onto the stage He also teased a new track at the and shocked everyone as he per- end of this performance, which is formed tracks such as “Baby I’m set to release soon and may fea-

6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ture Skrillex. Overall, the Warm Up not only lived up to students’ anticipation, but also surpassed the standard for a musical event. Both artists had the opportunity to interact with the audience and showcased popular tracks, which left the crowd energetic and waiting eagerly for the next song. TroyBoi’s setlist contained reminiscent tracks as well as new fan favorites while JPEGMAFIA’s performance allowed new fans to fall in love with his music full of his signature hypnotic cadence and trance influences. Continuing to amaze people with his ingenious electronic tracks, TroyBoi’s next performance will be in Tampa, Florida at the Ritz Ybor on Apr. 19. JPEGMAFIA, on the other hand, is set to perform at Coachella 2019, which will be held in Indio, CA at the Empire Polo Club on Apr. 12. Both artists seem to be in the process of producing and releasing new tracks, so fans should keep on their toes and watch out for their new releases! Photos by Juan Gonzalez | Photo Editor

Script to Screen:

A Conversation with “Game of Thrones” Episode Director NOE PADILLA

ith season eight of “Game of Thrones” right around the corner, UCSB gave fans of the series an opportunity to interact with Jeremy Podeswa, the director of the episode “The Dragon and the Wolf,” through the Script to Screen series held by the Pollock Theater on Saturday, April 6. The Script to Screen series is hosted and created by Matthew Ryan, the director of the Pollock Theater. The series brings in notable writers, directors, actors, and producers to examine the screenplays they’re associated with. The series also gives the opportunity for audience members to ask questions to the invited guests

during the Q&A after the screening. Although the event began with a screening of the season seven finale, the event didn’t really start until Podeswa and Ryan walked onto the stage. Once both men were seated, Ryan immediately asked the question everyone in the room wanted to know: “Will you confirm right now, that Podrick wins the Iron Throne?” Podeswa laughed at the question, and continued on with the Q&A. One of the first serious questions that Ryan asked Podeswa was about his response to watching the live audience reacting to the episode on screen.

“I loved hearing the reaction,” Podeswa said. “It’s great to see the humor land. It’s great to see the things that are meant to be moving — you could hear a pin drop.” The first half of the Q&A primarily focused on examining certain elements from the episode. This episode follows Daenerys’s group as they try to negotiate a truce with Queen Cersei. “We rehearsed [this episode] like a play. For the first time ever I think in the history of the show, we got almost the entire cast together in Belfast. We staged it like a play,” Podeswa said. “The cast really loved it, because they never had

the opportunity to do that before with each other.” For the second half of the Q&A, Podeswa took questions from individuals in the audience. The questions ranged from directorial advice to behind-the-scenes trivia. One question that stood out was a query about Podeswa’s favorite character. “As a viewer, I loved watching [Arya and Sansa Stark], and as a director I loved working with [Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner] because they’re so fresh, fun, and gifted,” remarked Podeswa. “Everybody’s a great actor, but I think because they’re so young and so skilled they blow me away.” After all the questions,

Podewsa stayed after the show to sign autographs for his many fans. Most of the audience members left the hall with signed merchandise, smiles on their faces, or engaged in deep conversation about the event. The next major event that the theater will be hosting is a screening of short films from the Viet Film Fest. The event will be held on April 11 at 7:00 p.m. and directors Kady Le, Lan Nquyen, and Quyen Nguyen-Le will be joining the event. Photo by Noe Padilla | The Bottom Line

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7

Data Science Club Hosts Annual Project Showcase JEREMY LEVINE | Staff Writer

oes the phrase “machine learning” make you quiver in confusion? Do you look at a spreadsheet of data and feel brooding terror? Have you ever studied statistics and become filled with delusions that what you are learning is pointless? The Data Science Club at UCSB offers a solution to your problems: the 2019 Data Science Project Showcase, where teams of UCSB students will present on how they applied statistical methods to understanding a wide range of issues. From 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, groups will showcase statistical analyses they have worked on over the past year, using any kind of data and methods of analysis they wanted. Each team will present their project for five minutes before a panel of statistics professors and professional data scientists, explaining their dataset, methodology, and results. Teams will then have to defend their project against questions from the panel. Lastly, teams will participate in a postering session, where they will be able to answer questions from the general public about their analyses. As of this article’s publishing, the panelist team is not yet finalized. Furthermore, the Data Science Club keeps the list of projects that are presenting every year private in order to build overall enthusiasm for the event. The Data Science Showcase at UCSB is a relatively new annual occurrence, having started two years ago by the equally new Data Science Club. It represents the culmination of a year’s worth of work for most teams, which start

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forming at the beginning of the year. Brian Lim, one of the Data Science Club’s project managers, said in an interview with The Bottom Line, “We have what’s known as a pitch fire, where anyone can come on stage and present a project idea no matter how bad it is or how good it is. And if other people are interested in that person’s idea, [then they can form a team].” After forming, teams work throughout the year with the club’s project managers to keep their project on track. With ten teams having made it to the final event, the only teams that will not present are ones that did not manage to find any results, whether because of technical issues or limited motivation. However, the ease of access to

present in the project showcase may decrease as the event gets more popular. Last year’s showcase featured only seven groups, compared to this year’s ten. Nonetheless, everyone, from data science novices to students with in-depth experience, is invited to participate in future projects to get a chance at presenting in the showcase. “Within our club, there are no stupid questions,” Lim said. Participants in the showcase, although not competing for awards, benefit from the professional networking that occurs at the event, which prospective employers attend to scout out data science talent. There may also be more concrete prizes: Responding to questions over text, Lim wrote, “We didn’t do awards on previous years, so if we have awards this

year, it’s a secret.” Register here if you’re interested in attending UCSB’s 2019 Data Science Project Showcase. https://datascienceucsb.org/ Image Courtesy of Data Science Club

We have what’s known as a pitch fire, where anyone can come on stage and present a project idea no matter how bad it is or how good it is. And if other people are interested in that person’s idea, [then they can form a team].

– Brian Lim, Data Science Project Manager

UCSB SASE WEEK: HIGHLIGHTING

ORGANIZATION MEMBERS NOE PADILLA

ast week, The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) hosted its science week. The goal of science week is to highlight members of the organization over social media platforms. Co-President of the UCSB chapter, Swetha Cherukuri, a third-year physics major, elaborated on what the chapter's science week activities.“ For Science Week, SASE UCSB mainly ran a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram highlighting different members of our chapter per day where members talked about the roles SASE and science have played in their lives,” Cherukuri said. “We ended the week on Friday with a tour of Apeel Sciences.” The social media campaign came as part of a national SASE initiative to highlight and celebrate membership in the sciences. On each day, a different member was featured for their contributions to both the organization and their respective fields of interest. Each post consisted of a

Q&A-style interview with the featured individual, including information about why they chose their major, their ambitions after graduation, and advice to underclassmen in their field of study. On Monday, SASE held a Scientist spotlight, which featured Nicole Tan, a first year who is the academic and social chair. “If I were to tell my freshman self (at the beginning of the year) about biochem, it would be to not lose track of the big picture of things.” said Tan on SASE’s Facebook post. “Knowing the individual steps and components of a body is a good starting place, but knowing how these interact with one another, their synergistic effects, as a functioning system is the overall goal,” Tan continued. The SASE UCSB historian, Rachel Barhouma, was featured on Tuesday for the Science Requirement day. Rachael is a second-year biochemistry and molecular biology major, and new member of the organization. When asked where she sees

“To me personally, SASE’s goal is to cultivate meaningful relationships between students, promote professionalism and diversity, and help students become more involved in their community.” - Cherukuri, SASE Member

herself in 10 years, Barhouma answered, “I hope to earn a Ph.D. and have a career in gene therapy. Eventually, I want to be able to design my own clinical trials using genes to treat diseases." Camilla Chesebro was featured for Wednesday’s Health day focus. Chesebro is a second-year biology major who an interest in the medical field. When she was younger, Chesebro was routinely in the hospital and while growing up developed an interest for the human body. “I hope that I'll have at least gotten into a job I like, preferably in the health field, but not necessarily a nurse or doctor. I don't know for sure what I want to do as of right now, but I do have a general idea.” Chesebro said. Thursday was SASE’s Fusion day, which highlights two of the organization's members. The first member who was featured was Euclid Quirino, a second-year physics major. “I chose physics because I was very interested with the concept of space and time and was fas-

cinated about the universe ever since I was in elementary school,” Quirno stated in SASE’s feature. “Ever since then, understanding the math of reality and knowing how objects move and why they move in certain ways has always excited me and pushed me to learn more about physics in general.” The second member highlighted on Fusion day was Junnichi Mijares, the 2018 SASE UCSB Secretary and fourth-year biochemistry major. “As a transfer student, I joined a bunch of clubs for networking opportunities and to find friends, but SASE felt different from other clubs,” Mijares said. “The people in SASE felt like they genuinely wanted to be your friend and get to know you. It was that reason why I stayed with SASE.” Finally, the last day of Science week focused on research, and Internal Vice President Jonathan Ng discussed the organization's activities in detail. “SASE took students who were interested in research oppor-

tunities to take a tour of the Apeel factory and laboratories.” Ng said. “We wanted to give a first hand experience of it.” When asked about what SASE meant, many of the members held a similar view, but Cherukuri summarizes it best. “To me personally, SASE's goal is to cultivate meaningful relationships between students, promote professionalism and diversity, and help students become more involved in their community.” said Cherukuri. The UCSB SASE chapter will be holding a faculty panel on April 11 at 6:00 p.m. to give students the opportunity to ask faculty members questions. SASE also holds general board meetings every other Wednesday, the next being on April 17 at 7:30p.m. The meeting focuses vary; some examples of past topics include internship opportunities, workshops for resumes, and elevator pitches.

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SCIENCE & TECH | 9

UCSB ISN’T EXEMPT FROM UNFAIR ADMISSIONS POLICIES ALEXANDER ORTIZ

ast week UCSB released acceptance letters to future Gauchos, capping off a tumultuous admissions season that has been rocked by accusations that a number of wealthy parents (including Full House star Lori Loughlin) essentially bought their children’s acceptances into prestigious universities such as USC and UCLA. However, bias that favors the wealthy has been a historical and current part of college admissions at many schools, including UCSB. This scandal has sparked discussion on the history of systematically elitist processes for college admission, but it seems as though only one television star’s explicit involvement in her daughter’s acceptance to USC gave the media compelling enough content to make it a leading story. The fact that in this scandal alone, 50 people, including employees of university admissions, standardized testing monitors, and university coaches, were all involved is far more concerning. This particular scandal exposed an organized scheme run by people in the education system. This does not help public opinion that university systems are solely money hungry institutions that run like corporations. While there have not been any noted illegal schemes at UCSB, the school has previously been accused of unfair admissions

10 | OPINIONS

processes that favored the wealthy and are potentially still active today. According to an article published by Forbes, for about ten years the UC system has notably accepted far more out-of-state students than in-state. This has led to statewide concern that the UC’s unfairly favor out-of-state students because they pay more for tuition than in-state students do. Furthermore, out-of-state students are a more lucrative source of income for UC's. UCSB is one of those campuses. According to Forbes, in 2018 UCSB admission rates showed that in-state admittance made up 29 percent of students, while 47 percent of students were out of state. While in recent years the state of California has called for more in-state students to be admitted, the UC campuses still show much higher admittance for out-of-state students. Last year, the L.A. Times reported that UCSB professors were having issues with international students whose English speaking and writing skills seem underdeveloped, which are usually tested for before admittance to ensure the student’s academic success at UCSB. As of 2011, international student acceptance grew exponentially for purposes of building diversity on UC campuses. One example highlighting the growth is the acceptance of 2,632 Chi-

nese students on 2008 to 22,325 in 2017. It’s possible that students were being accepted under lower test standards for the money they bring to UCSB. Like out-of-state students, international students pay much larger tuition fees. This may explain the acceptance of those that did not meet the standards of English speaking and writing required to attend. The USC admissions scandals were shocking and garnered mass attention. UC’s have been systematically admitting wealthier students for years yet they are not faced with the same level of scrutiny. Although the USC incident used far more illegal methods of admittance fraud, are UCSB admissions issues that much more different? It’s a question that answers itself when noting ways in which wealthy students have overall advantages that come into play when getting accepted to college. Many colleges in the U.S. still have legacy admissions in which the students are given a more likely acceptance for having a family member or members who are alumni of that campus. UCSB does not have legacy admissions processes but does have legacy based scholarships. Even excluding the problematic information explained here, universities are still inherently more accessible to the rich.

In an interview in a March 2019 article for New Haven Register, the Dean of UCSB’s Gevirtz School of Education, Jeffrey Milem, said that “Kids who come from means. . .have historically always been advantaged in the admissions process. They almost always attend better schools . . . have access to test-taking courses, they have access to hiring admissions consultants to work with them to develop their file for admission and help them craft their responses to essay prompts.” “By attending wealthier schools,” Milem continued, “they have more of an opportunity to take advanced placement classes … which factors into admissions decisions at institutions with a highly selective admissions process.” There have been systems put in place like affirmative action,

financial aid, and Cal Grant funding that make college today far more accessible for minorities and those living in lower income households. It's great to see progress towards equal opportunity for all, but that feeling can be disheartened by incidents such as the USC admission scandal. Knowing that there were over 55 people using their positions to unfairly get students into college makes me wonder how many institutions are possibly still using unfair admissions policies. It’s also a valuable moment to question problematic admissions processes at UCSB. The USC incident is an important opportunity for all of us to recognize disparities in our educational institutions and hold those institutions accountable. Illustration by Alyssa Long | Staff Illustrator

Comic of the Week Comic by Jake Ortega | The Bottom Line

DELTOPIA

10 YEARS LATER JONATHAN LEBO

aws both influence and are influenced by society. 2019 marks the tenth year since the Santa Barbara county ban on Floatopia, the annual social beach event where thousands flocked towards the sand and in the water — this former event, a platform for artistic expression, is Deltopia’s mother. This ban inevitably altered the way Isla Vista parties by regulating how and when festivities can happen. We have heard a great deal since 2009 about the things that are a menace to civilization in Isla Vista. First it was the University of California’s decision for additional tuition hikes; next the dearth of smooth pavement between potholes. Then it was the outer community’s response towards the irrepressible week-long spirit of Halloween celebration, which ran day to day accompanied by snappa-tourneys, day-gers, slapping the bag, and students feeling ambivalent about hitting the library over shotgunning 30-racks of Rolling-Rock beer between bass-echoing dubstep mixes. Nay, the dangers which confront our Isla Vista culture are not so much the external dangers — increases in tuition, uneven

roads, and the contrast in culture between Goleta and Isla Vista. The most alarming dangers are those that menace from within — the dangers that threaten the mind over body. In an interview with The Bottom Line, an I.V. Foot Patrol police officer stated that the difference between the current celebrations and Floatopia is that “back in ’09, partiers expressed themselves more artistically.” He recalls the many unique forms of floatation devices and decorated homemade rafts students built to properly celebrate the bacchanalian weekend on the waves. In contrast, partiers today are simply focused on more traditional partying. It appears as though the mandated sound ordinances, parking restrictions, and tighter regulations on the festivity have limited how revelers weave artistic thought into expression. Nonetheless, this weekend illustrates how Deltopia evolved from its early inception as a reaction to the beach ban a decade ago into the unique festivity of today. I took the officer’s observation to thought and it posed a strong question: is the current Deltopia with its door-to-door house parties as sophisticated in expression as Floatopia? Could the current

experience become enhanced? Parties are gatherings where human beings come together to build an experience. A decade ago, Floatopia created a need for people to come together and build — students fought the laws of physics with raw materials and constructed buoyant vessels. Deltopia, sometimes described as a type of localized street fair, offers more subtle opportunities of expression. Some have compared the weekend with concerts like Coachella that simultaneously play several live sets of music in order to reach out to the eclectic tastes of its participants. In an interview with The Bottom Line, fourth-year English major Daniel Ebrahimi describes his time this weekend as inclusively fun. “There were many lively parties to attend,” Ebrahimi said. “Each house party had its own vibe and blend of jams; basically, everyone had a chance to enjoy Deltopia.” Ebrahimi added, “It was really cool to see other students taking initiative by handing out cups of water to people walking through Del Playa making sure people remain safe. And, it was interesting to see groups of religious students offering their blessings.”

Perhaps I.V. is one of the few places in the world where both religious folks and worldly folks get along with one another without judging each other in such a setting. In my experience as a junior UCSB student, I recall Deltopias that were unfettered by afternoon sound ordinances. In the former AEPi Del Playa satellite house (named Pinky Toe) one flip of the switch on the balcony amp would draw in dozens of dressed up partiers enjoying the atmosphere inside the house and outside. The transition from the beaches to the streets have created a platform and atmosphere where

people dress up. This experience is enhanced through both sound and visual field that cater more to entertainment of the senses. Although regulations today have restricted both the times and decibel range where music can exist during Deltopia, the Isla Vista beach culture continues on, remains distinct among other universities, and kicks off spring quarter as an inclusive time for both study and fun.

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OPINIONS | 11

JAKE SHIMABUKURO:

UKULELE WIZARD

Renowned composer Jake Shimabukuro returns to UCSB to perform a noon Storke show. Attracting a massive audience with his upbeat and energetic tunes influenced by “jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk, and flamenco” as well as free admission, Shimabukuro gives a performance that awe old and new fans alike.

Shimabukuro demonstrates his signature quick and intense fingerstyle as he plays the chorus of a fanfavorite rock song.

STORKE NOON SHOW

Photos by ANNIE HUANG | Staff Writer DOCEAN PARK | Web Editor

Thanking his audience for their time and attention, Shimabukuro talks a bit about his background as a Japanese-American growing up in Hawaii before playing his next song.

Shimabukuro raises his arms as he finishes his song, waiting for the crowd’s reaction.

A family enjoys the

Shimabukuro stays

show from the front

behind after his

as Jake Shimabukuro

performance to

makes his ukulele

sign the ukulele

come alive with song.

and longboard of two young fans.

PHOTO | 12