Thursday, June 1, 2023

In and Around Isla Vista

UCSB hosts senior celebration fair

UC Santa Barbara is hosting a senior celebration fair on Thursday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Storke Plaza. The celebration will feature UCSB merchandise, free breakfast, snacks, games and more.

A Week in UC Student News

UCLA alumnus funds

Affordability Initiative, provides scholarships to California students

UCLA alumnus Peter Merlone donated $15 million to the university to fund the Affordability Initiative, a scholarship program aiming to make pursuing an undergraduate degree more affordable, the Daily Bruin reported.

The initiative will award four-year scholarships to up to 35 California residents each year, beginning in 2024. The scholarships — each $20,000 — will be distributed to the recipients over the course of their four years at UCLA, according to a UCLA Newsroom press release.

“UCLA recognizes that volatility in the U.S. and global economies, the high cost of living in Los Angeles, ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors are

creating a college affordability challenge for students and their families,” UCLA spokesperson Barbra Ramos said in an email statement to the Daily Bruin.

Ramos added in the statement that the initiative is not only focused on addressing tuition costs but also on correcting the economic boundaries present in housing, health insurance and transportation costs.

Vandalism reported at UC President’s Berkeley residence

University of California

President Michael V. Drake’s house in Berkeley, California, was vandalized on May 15, Berkeley Police Department spokesperson Jessica Perry told the Daily Californian.

According to Perry, the back of the residence was spray painted with racial slurs and profanity, among other symbols.

UC Police Departments told The Daily Californian that they initially responded to help, but the UC San Francisco Police Department will handle the

investigation.

The UC Office of the President released a statement after the vandalism took place, NBC Bay Area reported.

“The University of California condemns all hate crimes committed against members of our campus communities,” the statement read. “We will continue doing everything possible to create a safe and welcoming university community for all.”

ASUCI advocates for UCI to remedy housing shortage

Associated Students at UC Irvine sent an email to all undergraduate students on Thursday, May 11, urging the UCI administration to mitigate the university’s housing shortage, UCI’s New University reported.

Associated Students at UC Irvine (ASUCI) sent the email after American Campus Communities (ACC) — a student housing developer — outlined its plan to address the situation.

“Currently there are 446 continuing students on our

housing waitlist for 2023-24, and I believe ACC has over 3,000 active applications,” UCI’s Housing Administrative Services Director Connie Malone told New University. In the email, ASUCI addressed several issues related to housing that UCI students face, including rent inflation and difficulties finding a guarantor.

Fourth-year history major, ASUCI Senate President ProTempore and primary author of the email Dilruba Asici also emphasized the fact the problem will only continue to worsen.

“It is clear that the issue will only continue to accumulate with Governor Newsom’s financial support deal to the UCs, which requires an increase of 8,000 California resident admissions into the UC system, meaning more incoming transfer and freshman, or a larger pool of students who get guaranteed housing will push out housing options for sophomores, juniors, and seniors,” Asici told New University.

“We will be giving away UCSB First and Class of 2023 merchandise and there will also be free breakfast, snacks, games, photo ops, raffles, live music, and various UCSB alumni panels for senior[s] to connect with,” the Shoreline description read.

The event is open to all seniors. Prospective attendees can register for the event through an RSVP form.

SAGE Center hosts guest lecture about image systems

University College London professor David Wengrow is presenting a guest lecture on Thursday, June 1, from 4-5 p.m. in Psychology 1312. The lecture is hosted by the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind.

“Yet the capacity of image systems to serve as complex intellectual devices in their own right is often overshadowed by their perception as “merely illustrating” propositions expressed in language or writing,” the Shoreline description read. “My SAGE lecture will offer a reappraisal of the status of image systems in human cognition and history, highlighting their role in the development of human societies across the divide of ‘oral’ and ‘literate’ cultures.”

Live streaming is not available for the lecture.

Residential Housing Association hosts drag, pride festival

The Residential Housing Association is hosting a pride festival titled “Taking Pride with Drag,” on Thursday, June 1, from 7-10 p.m. at Storke Plaza.

“A small pride festival where we will have drag queens, music, food, and good vibes,” the Shoreline description read. “This is meant to be a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to celebrate pride together.”

The event will feature a drag show, vendors and tabling. Food will be provided and will include cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and more.

A.S. Trans & Queer Commission hosts LGBTQIA+ rollerskating night

The Associated Students Trans & Queer Commission (TQComm) is hosting a rollerskating night for LGBTQIA+ students on Friday, June 2, from 7-9 p.m. at the UCSB Recreation Center.

The event is disco themed, and prospective attendees can sign up through Shoreline.

The event will feature a keynote speech by Hosford Counseling & Psychological Services Clinic Director Heidi Zetzer, student panelists and various campus group workshops.

“We’ll dive into a variety of mental health topics relating to imposter syndrome, academic burnout, and managing transitions,” the Shoreline description read.

TQComm hosts Isla Vista’s first ever pride festival

TQComm is hosting Isla Vista’s first ever pride festival on Saturday, June 3, from 12-4 p.m. at Little Acorn Park and the I.V. Community Center.

Titled “QTOPIA,” the festival will feature small business vendors, photo booths, water slides, food and live music. Several local businesses in I.V. are also participating in Rainbow Loop — organized by Her Campus UCSB — where they will donate a portion of their pre-tax sales to the Pacific Pride Foundation.

Resource Center for Sexual andGenderDiversityhostsAro/ Ace Picnic

The Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity is hosting its quarterly picnic for aromantic and asexual students on Saturday, June 3, from 12-2 p.m. at the SRB lawn.

“Join us for our quarterly aro/ace picnic for an afternoon of fun and games,” the Shoreline description read. “Feel free to bring your own food, or enjoy the snacks provided.” Commission on Culture, Arts, and Joy Justice hosts African culture night

The A.S. Commission on Culture, Arts, and Joy Justice is hosting an African Culture Night on Saturday, June 3, from 6:30-9 p.m. at I.V. Theater. The event is co-hosted by the East African Student Association, African diasporic Cultural Resource Center, Educational Opportunity Program, Nigerian Students Association and Caribbean Student Association.

“The African Culture Night highlights the beauty of the cultures within the African diaspora through live music and dance performances, a fashion show, a comedy show, and refreshments,” the Shoreline description read. “All are welcome to join us for a celebration Beyond Borders.”

The event will feature live music, dance performances and a fashion show, including a comedy set by Nigerian American actor Chinedu Unaka. Food and refreshments will be provided.

A.S. Black Women’s Health Collaborative hosts generational brunch

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Hu,

Corrections Policy: To call an error to the attention of the editor in chief, send a written statement detailing the correct information to eic@dailynexus.com. The Daily Nexus publishes all corrections of errors. Readers interested in submitting a piece to the opinion section should do so by emailing opinion@dailynexus.com with the subject line “Article for Outside Opinions.” All op-ed submissions are subject to edits by the editorial staff. Articles should be between 800-1200 words. The Daily Nexus will not publish press releases or pieces that solely

Afghan Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine host culture night

The Afghan Student Association (ASA) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) are hosting a collaborative culture night on Friday, June 2, from 7-10 p.m. at the Graduate Student Association Lounge.

The event serves as “an endof-year culture night to celebrate South Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures,” the Shoreline description read.

ASA and SJP will serve halal Afghan and Arab food and drinks, with Afghan, Arab and Bollywood music. ASA board members will also perform the Attan — the national dance of Afghanistan.

A.S. Public & Mental Health Commission hosts mental health conference

A.S. Public & Mental Health Commission is hosting its eighth annual UCSB Mental Health Conference on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Resource Building (SRB).

The all-day conference will feature free breakfast and lunch, tote bags, t-shirts and other items.

The A.S. Black Women’s Health Collaborative (BWHC) is hosting a generational brunch for Black students and their family members on Sunday, June 4, from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Mosher Alumni House Whalen Plaza. The brunch’s theme is pastels and monochrome, and brunch hats are encouraged.

“Black Women’s knowledge continues to inspire and hold it down,” the Shoreline description read. “With the plethora of existing Black beauty and intellect, we are excited to come together to celebrate and hold space for our collective empowered endeavors of the past, present, and future.”

Prospective attendees are required to fill out BWHC’s RSVP form. Food will be provided.

Raíces de Mi Tierra presents annual showcase

Raíces de Mi Tierra is hosting its 31st annual showcase on Sunday, June 4, from 3-4:30 p.m. at Campbell Hall. The event — titled “Las Costumbres de la Costa” — is free admission and will showcase various dance performances from the group.

“Every year, Raíces de mi Tierra hosts an annual showcase where we share the different dances we have been working on throughout the year,” the Shoreline description read. “In addition, this even allows us to showcase the beauty and diversity of traditional Mexican dance.”

The first time I entered the Daily Nexus office, I was overwhelmed. Our little Storke Tower basement is by no means an uncluttered space. There are photos, quote sheets, chalkings, beer bottles, cardboard cutouts of Anchorman, inflatable aliens, unwashed blankets and broken electronic devices strewn about. Journalists usually learn how to work in chaos. After all, our jobs demand that we bring order and clarity to the news happening all around us. But, those of us who work at the Nexus have the gift of learning and working in a chaotic office that carries almost 100 years of history, legacy and lore.

I consider journalists to be chroniclers of history, but who remembers the writer behind the news? Who records and preserves the history of the college journalists who are willing to leave a party on a

Friday night because breaking news had to be attended to? We do. Every random item that clutters our space carries a memory, a story — some that even predate me, some with outlandish origins that are passed from editor to editor. Our time at the Nexus may be finite, but our memories and our work occupy a state of permanence in that office.

As the winner of the 202122 Nexus award for “Basically Lives in the Office,” I can tell you that soon enough, the office felt less overwhelming and more a provider of strength. Every piece of clutter served as an important reminder of the great journalists who came before us and struggled with the same issues we contend with today.

Every memento I contributed served as a reminder that my editorial staff and I carried and preserved our history, our legacy and our lore within those four neon green and blue walls. With the utmost gratitude, I can say

that I found my purpose and my people in that dingy, leaking, horribly-painted basement office.

Serving as the 2022-23 editorin-chief of the Daily Nexus has been the greatest honor of my 21 years of life. I joined the Nexus my freshman year to test myself, to see if I had the resilience, gumption and eloquence to be a good journalist. It wasn’t long before I realized what a foolish notion that was. There is no formula of characteristics that comprise a good journalist — just one very important ingredient: community.

A good journalist makes every effort to understand their community and serve their community. We are tasked with upholding honesty and transparency, platforming local issues and giving a voice to every member of the communities we report for.

A good journalist also relies on their community of colleagues to cover issues through multiple mediums, asks for support and

advice and derives strength through camaraderie and solidarity. The point I’m driving at is every article and every paper we put out has a crew of writers and editors behind it. Our work and our accomplishments are a team effort — and I am damn proud of my team.

The 2022-23 Daily Nexus Editorial Staff was composed of some of the most talented writers and journalists I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Every single person brought new perspectives and ideas that continually elevated the quality of our content.

All of our dedication, leadership and talent led us to win seven awards at this year’s California Collegiate Media Awards: first place for best infographic, first place for best news series, second place for best editorial, second place for best photo series, third place for best newspaper column, third place for best feature story and third place for best newspaper.

The Daily Nexus has no formal advisor and — in comparison to many California college newspapers — very little funding. Despite those disadvantages, we are a scrappy and committed team, and we brought home third place for best newspaper for the first time since the ‘90s. All I can say is that I’m blessed to have been surrounded by innovative and honest story-tellers who value community the way any good journalist should.

My time at the Nexus has largely been defined by the laughter, the raw conversations and the adventures I’ve had with my community of journalists. I will forever cherish being carried on Zoë Lo’s shoulders into the hole in the ceiling of our dark room — just to see what’s going on in there — while shrieking out of fear; I will always remember belting “My Best Friend’s Brother” with everyone at our fall quarter karaoke night.

Our experiences and memories bring me great joy, but the friendships and community I was lucky enough to have are what I will take away from my tenure. No matter the severity of the challenges we’ve faced together, Holly Rusch, I have always found strength from your compassion, resilience and wit. I cannot condense my love for and gratitude toward you

into a singular graph; what I can do is tell you that you will forever occupy the intersection of love and admiration in my heart. Thank you for your companionship, your honesty and your fierce loyalty. Most of all, thank you for making me feel loved and supported through the chaos that occupies our lives.

When print nights were rough, when emotionally taxing stories compelled some of our bleakest moments, Sindhu Ananthavel and Asumi Shuda, the laughter and hope you provided created an encouraging and empowering environment to shed powerlessness and embrace the task at hand. When your friends are your colleagues, rising together to meet the demands of any given challenge becomes a simple task. Thank you for your wonderful senses of humor and the warm arms with which you embraced me. I can only hope I have been as instrumental a support system to the two of you as you have been for me. I have never felt as celebrated and appreciated as I do when I’m with you, Daniela Gomez and Devanshi Tomar. The joy and love I share with the two of you grounds me and reminds me that the world will not stop spinning simply because we forgot to delete an oxford comma. Thank you for reminding me to drink water and take a walk in the middle of a seven-hour shift. I am a better person for having you both in my life.

Nisha Malley and Mark Alfred, the two of you continuously inspire me to be a better editor and a better journalist. Nisha, I have learned a lot from your inquisitive and meticulous approach to writing and editing every single article, and I’m a better writer for it. I hold your opinion in high regard — personally and professionally. I am so grateful to call you a friend and colleague. Though I would never say it to your face, Mark, every single investigative piece you wrote astounded me. I greatly admire the lengths to which you are willing to go to find every piece of the puzzle. Thank you for the persistence and determination you brought to this newspaper.

The moment you first walked into the Nexus office as an incoming freshman, Alex Levin, I knew you were going to do

great things at this paper. Your talent is beyond your years, and you inspire great confidence for the future of student-journalism at this paper. Thank you for the uplifting energy and thoughtful efforts you bring to every print night.

Jorge Mercado and Evelyn Spence, your guidance and support helped me refine my values as a journalist. I stand here as a far more mature and confident leader in journalism than I began as a result of both of your advice and perspectives. I will always look up to the two of you for the invaluable insight you provide and the high bar of journalistic quality and integrity you uphold.

Emily Kocis, I never cease to appreciate our partnership. You spotted the corners of the mat, and consistently looked to take things off my plate. I hope you know how much I appreciate your attentiveness, the grace you provided me and your ability to handle my incessant phone calls of paranoia. I could not have asked for a better managing editor.

I have the utmost faith in you, Pricila Flores, to take this paper to new heights. Your positive attitude and firm leadership are two strengths I greatly admire. I’ve relied on you greatly for advice and support throughout this year, and confidently hand the reins of this paper knowing you will lead the charge thoughtfully and with great integrity.

The first article I ever wrote for the Nexus was an opinion article called, “Roll Call Racism: The Power In Pronunciation” where I unpacked how I would enforce the proper pronunciation of my name in my new college space. The Daily Nexus was the first space I felt confident enough to demand my name be pronounced accurately. It was the first place the people around me respected me enough to try. I leave this paper a more confident and mature person and journalist, and I will always have the Daily Nexus to thank for that.

To the 2023-24 Daily Nexus editorial staff, and every journalist that finds a home in our cluttered and chaotic office thereafter, please look at our walls and know you stand on the shoulders of giants, but most of all, give them hell.

The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Senate passed a bill codifying the documentation of all Associated Students funds dispersed to campus organizations.

The Senate passed the Financial Transparency and Accounting Act on May 3, requiring any entities receiving Associated Students (A.S.) funds to provide monthly lineitem reports on fiscal spending to the Finance and Business (F&B) Committee’s chief financial officer.

In an email to A.S., Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jasmin Hirth said the new structure will be implemented next year, and the F&B Committee will hold several information sessions on the processes.

“Familiarization of expenditures will create a culture of financial awareness within each entity, which will help each entity present during budget hearings,” Hirth’s email read. “In addition, the Finance and Business Committee will be able to make more informed decisions.”

First-year computer science

major and first pro-tempore and Off-Campus Senator Ephraim Shalunov authored the bill and said A.S.’s current system of financial management does not have a uniform process to account for where funding goes after dispersal.

“We have pretty bad organizational oversight over what sort of spending we’re actually seeing,” Shalunov said. “We can see a breakdown of what sorts of organizations we give our money to, but then at that level, the reporting stops being consistent. It’s not easy to answer questions like, ‘What percent of A.S. funds are used on salaries versus food versus event space,’ things like that.”

The bill stipulates that “any and all entities and persons that receive student fees—in the form of salaries, reimbursements, disbursements, or otherwise” must report the usage of any A.S. funds monthly to the CFO.

According to Shalunov, this process primarily applies to entities that regularly receive money from A.S., such as Boards, Commissions and Units. Registered campus organizations and individuals who

receive one-time disbursements from A.S. would not have to report each month past the one-time usage.

All financial reports will then be compiled into a “master budget spreadsheet,” according to the bill’s language, and be publicly available on the Association’s website. Shalunov said he plans to work on further legislation streamlining A.S. financial processes.

“We are trying to make the most of every dime that we take from students, and that starts with knowing where that money is going, but that is not the endpoint,” Shalunov said.

He emphasized the Association’s mission in serving the student population and the importance of having financial transparency and control for the entity.

“The Associated Students is a machine that converts student fees into bettering the lives of students on campus,” Shalunov said. “Keeping that in mind, we need to know very well how we’re spending the money to see what changes we need to make.”

A.S. Senate swears in 74th cohort

Isla Vista locals urged to heed water safety protocols

Anushka Ghosh Dastidar Staff Writer

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department made numerous water rescues throughout the past year, following storms and a surge in rainfall from late December 2022 to March 2023.

Cliff erosion, ocean pollution and high tides have all posed threats to those on the beach and in the water.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency during the winter storms, which led to flood warnings, evacuation orders, road closures and school cancellations, in addition to an increase in the number of water rescues necessary. Rescue teams were frequently called to the Isla Vista area due to poor ocean conditions from impacts of the storms, according to Santa Barbara County (SBC) Fire Department Public Information Officer Scott Safechuck.

Sindhu Ananthavel Lead News Editor

The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Senate swore in the 74th cohort of senators and executives on May 24 in the University Center Flying A Studios Room.

Third-year political science major and Associated Students (A.S.) President Tessa Veksler was the first to be sworn in by her predecessor, fourth-year political science major Gurleen Pabla.

“I, Tessa Veksler, hereby affirm that I will fulfill the duties of the A.S. President for the 20232024 academic year to the best of my ability,” Veksler said, reciting A.S. Standing Policy 9, Section E. “I will seek to facilitate the Associated Students and the University Community in a manner that is consistent with the ideals of an academic community.”

All executives were sworn in by their predecessors. Thirdyear biochemistry major Sohum Kalia was sworn in as Internal Vice President (IVP), thirdyear psychological & brain sciences major Osaze Osayande

was sworn in as External Vice President for Local Affairs, thirdyear political science major Vero Caveroegusquiza was sworn in as External Vice President for Statewide Affairs and third-year economics and history double major Nathan Lee was sworn in as Student Advocate General.

Following the executives, the 74th senate was collectively sworn in by newly appointed IVP Kalia.

Kalia did not respond to requests for comment.

First-year computer science major Ephraim Shalunov was sworn in as Off-Campus Senator and appointed first pro-tempore. Shalunov — who served as On-Campus Senator in the 73rd Senate — expressed excitement in entering a new term with the 74th Senate.

“I think that [the] 74th Senate is uniquely qualified as far as Senates go,” Shalunov said in an interview with the Nexus.

“There’s a good chunk of people continuing from the 73rd. There are people who have diverse experiences in BCUs [Boards, Commissions and Units] and other places with an A.S. coming in there … I think it’s great.”

“A lot of the rescues that we’ve had earlier this year were more storm related; people going out into the ocean during storms,” Safechuck said. “Even people who are versed at surfing had difficulties just because the tide conditions changed, the beach would disappear, the tide increased in a way so they were breaking against the cliffs, so we had several cliff rescues.”

On Jan. 6, the SBC Fire Department responded to a 911 call regarding a surfer caught by waves against the bluffs. SBC Fire Department utilized a rope system in order to make the rescue which resulted in no injuries after evaluations made by paramedics.

One week later, a surfer trapped on the beach by waves on the west-end of Goleta Beach was rescued and safely escorted to the rocks without injuries.

On March 13, the SBC Fire Department arrived at the bluffs near UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Research Building in response to a 911 call by a fellow surfer who found the victim floating face-down in the ocean. After a failed CPR attempt, the surfer was declared dead at the scene.

Safechuck warned against beginner surfers going out amidst large waves and poor water quality stating, “beginners should wait for a better day.”

Rip currents pose a threat to swimmers and surfers, dragging people away from the shore and leaving them at risk of drowning, according to Safechuck.

Safechuck explained the best way to proceed when caught in a rip current.

“In the event that they’re stuck in a rip current, [they should] always swim perpendicular to the rip current, parallel to the

shore so that they don’t have to fight the current and then they can work their way in.”

Additionally, tides have been gradually moving further up the shores of Isla Vista since the storms have washed away most of the sand on the beaches.

“There’s certain times in a month where we get extremely high tides, if you look at on a scale of tides, somewhere around a 5.0 or higher can be considered a high tide,” Safechuck said. “It also is affected by how much erosion we have at the beach or how much sand build up we have. So the less sand that we have there, the closer that the water can approach the cliffs.”

“As the tide comes up, we have a lot of people that are trapped there, so it’s important that people recognize and learn about the tide systems and how it affects the different beaches that they go to,” he continued.

Rainwater runoff from the roads resulted in contaminated ocean water earlier this January. This, coupled with sewage spills and blocked drain pipes, led to high bacteria levels found in ocean water. Miramar Beach and Fernald Point Beach were among the beaches closed due to “approximately 5,760 gallons of sewage” being spilled from to a compromised sewage line, according to a press release from Santa Barbara County Public

Health Department.

Safechuck said this can be detrimental to the health of swimmers, who should beware of ocean purity levels prior to entering beaches. County beaches including Butterfly Beach, Arroyo Burro Beach, Hope Ranch Private Beach and Goleta Beach Park were all placed under warning due to not meeting state health standards. Furthermore, people were warned against making contact with lagoon and creek water.

“Anyone who goes into the ocean should be checking different websites to see what the water purity is or if there’s anything that they need to be concerned about,” Safechuck said. “Any time that we get any type of rain, a lot of the mountain runoff and street runoff goes directly into the ocean. So we definitely recommend not going into the ocean within 24-72 hours after it rains.”

As summer approaches and more people are gearing up to spend time on the beaches and in the ocean, Safechuck urged locals to take precautions. Common sundowner winds — offshore winds from the north — have the potential to push people beneath the water, Safechuck said.

“We recommend that they wear a life jacket and that they always have more than one form of communication such as a cell phone in a waterproof bag or a marine radio,” Safechuck said. “It’s not uncommon for the sundowner winds to push straight offshore and if people aren’t familiar with those winds it can be blown out into the channel and cause rescues every year for our rescue team.”

Safechuck also spoke to the ways to prevent drownings when in the ocean by ensuring lifeguards are in the vicinity.

“When it comes to ocean safety, we always recommend that someone swims in front of a staff lifeguard station.”

Safechuck advised locals to take water safety seriously with the summer approaching.

“We want people to have a safe enjoyable summer and we want to make sure that we don’t lose anyone in the ocean or to a pool drowning this summer,” Safechuck said. “People [should] take into account if they need to learn how to swim, and this could be the summer to do that.”

Rip currents pose a threat, dragging surfers away from the shore at the risk of drowning.

A.S. President Tessa Veksler is sworn in by her predecessor, Gurleen Pabla.

UC Santa Barbara’s Parking Lot 22 — a five-story parking structure on the UCSB campus — is a popular practice area for local and campus performance groups, but reports of noise disturbance and administrative pushback have restricted bands from continuing to use the parking lot as a rehearsal space.

Parking Lot 22 is located directly across from the Student Resource Building (SRB), which is home to a variety of cultural and resource centers.

The university posted a sign at Lot 22 stating that parking facilities should only be used for parking — and not for making music. Members of local student band French Cinema encountered this sign when they arrived at the parking lot for their biweekly band practice on Monday, May 15.

When asked about student bands using Lot 22, UCSB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Chief of Staff Miles Ashlock said that bands disrupted daily activities in the SRB during a May 17 Associated Students Senate meeting.

“Nobody wants to crack down on the band scene or ruin anybody’s time, but it is a parking lot under the governance of transportation and parking services,” Ashlock said. “The noise throughout the

day created by the bands does interrupt student services in the Student Resource Building.”

“There is business, including very personal business, sensitive business, going on on the face of the SRB that faces that parking garage,” he continued. “We regularly receive complaints from particularly the staff that are working there trying to provide service to students saying, ‘Can you tell them to stop?’”

After encountering the sign, French Cinema conducted practice as usual, but when they returned two days later, the outlets in the parking lot — which the band uses to plug in amplifiers and other instruments — had been turned off.

“Pretty much every practice we’ve ever done has been at Lot 22,” said French Cinema guitarist and third-year physics major Cole Bentley. “We were one of the first bands to go there and realize, shit, the power is off.”

Local bands, dance groups and other organizations primarily use Lot 22 because of a lack of other practice spaces both on campus and in I.V.

“There really is nowhere to practice, especially if you live on campus,” Bentley said. “Even if you live off campus in I.V. somewhere, there’s a very small chance that you’re going to be allowed to practice.”

The UCSB Department of

Music offers a variety of practice rooms, but reserves them for music majors and minors, as well as students in performance ensembles, according to the music department website.

The sign posted at Lot 22 cited California Code of Regulations Title 5 Section 100004, which states that “no non-affiliate may use amplified sound on University Property, without prior approval from the Designated University Official.”

However, until the presence of the sign and the subsequent loss of power in Lot 22’s outlets, there had been minimal resistance to bands utilizing the parking lot, according to Bentley.

“We’re technically not allowed to play here. That’s been the case,” Bentley said.

“But in actuality, most of the time, as long as you played at reasonable hours … you could get away with it.”

Bentley recalled an interaction with campus police who told the band to stop but also offered guidelines for when bands are allowed to practice. However, Bentley described the guidelines as “not realistic” because “there’s not enough spaces for all the bands that need to practice” during the police officers’ proposed time slot.

“The campus police had told us when they came to shut us down, it was like, ‘Oh, you guys are allowed to play for …

a couple of hours on Sunday every week, and that’s it,” Bentley said.

Other than a few similar interactions, French Cinema experienced little pushback from the university about them rehearsing at Lot 22 prior to the signage.

“There seemed to be this sort of leniency, because we had been able to practice there before,” he continued. “And now they gave no explanation as to why we weren’t anymore. It was just out of nowhere.”

Makayla Caliendo, a first-year statistics and data science major and lead singer for student band Sweet Appeal, voiced similar concerns about the abruptness of the university’s response.

“It just kind of felt a little unfair, just because they didn’t even try to work with us to make new restrictions,” she said. “They just kind of shut us down immediately.”

Office of International Students & Scholars International Student Adviser

Felipe Recinos — whose office in the SRB directly faces Lot 22 — explained how the noise from bands has influenced his work day.

“I understand the want to practice music, but it’s just frustrating when it happens during business hours,” Recinos said. “Sometimes it’s really hard to focus on work, especially for me; I have ADHD so I already have a hard time focusing without additional distractions.”

Rather than disallow bands from utilizing Lot 22 entirely, Bentley suggested that the university designate specific hours where bands can practice that do not disrupt campus activities.

“If there’s a problem with bands playing earlier, then that would be solved if there was a clear communication between the school and the bands about realistic guidelines that they could follow,” Bentley said. “My suggestion would be: Allow bands to practice from 7-10 [p.m.] any day of the week, and I think that would be good because people who live and work on campus would not be affected from 7-10.”

Recinos said that Bentley’s solution is viable in mitigating effects on the SRB, since he, along with most other SRB workers, are not present from 7-10 p.m.

“I think that is a really good idea,” Recinos said in reference to Bentley’s proposal. “I think

that would be really cool if we could allow the 7-10 p.m.”

Recinos pointed out that while practicing later in the day would not impact people working in the SRB, there are safety concerns with musicians rehearsing at Lot 22.

“There’s also the element of danger that it is a parking lot. It’s filled with cars. People are just not watching out for people playing or performing,” Recinos said. “I wish there was more safety around it.”

University spokesperson Kiki Reyes similarly emphasized the safety risks for both the musicians practicing at Lot 22 and the people who park their cars there.

“Using a parking structure as a practice space puts our students in danger and poses a risk to others who park there,” Reyes said in an email statement to the Nexus. “The parking structures are inappropriate and not approved for anything other than parking a car.”

Caliendo disagreed with Reyes and Recinos’ sentiment, contending that Sweet Appeal practices in the corner of the parking lot, which does not obstruct parked or moving cars.

“There’s not really any safety issues that we’ve ran into,” Caliendo said. “The places where the outlets we use [are] way off to the side and it doesn’t

bother anyone and it doesn’t get in the way of cars. It doesn’t give a safety hazard.”

Additionally, Reyes noted that the office of Student Engagement & Leadership (S.E.A.L.) is “actively working with campus partners and student leaders to help identify safe spaces for registered student organizations.”

However, because the bands that practice at Lot 22 are not registered campus organizations, S.E.A.L. is not currently assisting them in finding a space to rehearse.

S.E.A.L. did not immediately respond to the Daily Nexus’ request for comment.

Bentley maintained that UCSB should help local music groups find an adequate location to practice, regardless of their affiliation with the school.

“I just think regardless of the official status of bands, they should still be supported by the university, or at least not actively shut down,” Bentley said. “The campus should want to support bands because it’s part of the creative community here. It’s part of the social community at UCSB.”

There will be an informational town hall for those who practice in Lot 22, specifically bands, on Thursday, June 1, at 7:45 p.m. in Embarcadero Hall.

Local student band Sweet Appeal practices at Lot 22.

COURTESY OF BRANDI POLZIEN

UCSB posts a sign stating that Lot 22 should only be used for parking.

COURTESY OF NICO CORRALES

UC Santa Barbara Indus hosted its annual End-of-Year Banquet and Culture Show on May 27 at Corwin Pavilion.

The event consisted of food, dancing and singing performances, as well as an open dance floor to end the night. Attendees were encouraged to wear traditional clothing.

Indus — UCSB’s South Asian cultural organization — invited members and performers to spotlight the group’s accomplishments and programming throughout the past year.

The banquet commenced by inviting attendees to eat food provided by Masala Spice outside the pavilion such as samosas, gulab jamun and mango lassi. After half an hour of eating and conversing, participants entered the pavilion to watch the performances.

Second-year environmental studies major, Indus club Events Coordinator and President-Elect Siaa Singh expressed that the banquet’s goal is to invite cultural performers to showcase their abilities.

“This year, we decided to do a cultural show with a lot of our clubs that are dedicated towards South Asian heritage, such as the Bollywood dance team on campus and the classical team on campus,” Singh said. “All of them had reached out and were wondering if there was a way for them to showcase what they’ve been working on throughout the year.”

The first act of the event included a comedy skit by comedian and banquet MC Rajveer Oberoi, who talked about common experiences of South Asians in the United States, including experiences with immigration.

“I know for a lot of students that are international students, they’re dependent on the school for sponsoring their visa. A lot of the time they have to go home, which is supremely unfair because they work just as hard as every other student and they also deserve to be here,” Singh said. “Have empathy and have compassion because it’s a big deal leaving your home country.”

Oberoi’s skit was followed by dancing and singing acts from groups such as the Indian classical dance team Agni, Bollywood fusion dance team Taara, Beachside Bhangra and other groups formed by friends and members of Indus.

Beachside Bhangra firstyear molecular, cellular and developmental biology graduate student Abhayjit Saini described the significance of performing Bhangra, a North Indian Punjabi dance traditionally performed as a way to celebrate a good harvest, at the banquet.

“The purpose of performing at Indus was to show the presence of the Punjabi community on campus and to show a sense of brotherhood amongst all different Indian subcultures given the current political circumstances in India,” Saini said.

Singh said celebrating South Asian cultural identity at the banquet focused on cultural food and dance.

“South Asian culture is very deep-rooted and etched into color, music, festival and especially food,” Singh said. “So that’s why I felt like it was important to throw an event that really celebrates togetherness, especially coming together for a common purpose, which was celebrating our culture that is so etched into dance and eating good food.”

As cultural dancing and singing acts performed, audience members

clapped along and cheered in support.

After an hour of performances, the show ended with a final dance performed by the Indus board and an invitation for all attendees to freely dance on the dance floor.

Fourth-year biological sciences major and Indus co-President

Maham Memon expressed the Indus’ purpose is to create a home for South Asians on UCSB’s campus.

“When you walk around UCSB, you don’t see that many South Asian people. I think it’s so important for people to feel that community here, especially during religious and cultural holidays because a lot of people can’t go back home,” Memon said.

Indus will continue hosting its annual banquet and culture show, as well as religious holiday celebrations such as Holi and Diwali, to highlight South Asian culture and provide a community for South Asian students as well as provide an opportunity for non-South Asian students to learn more about South Asian culture.

“It’s important to be aware that Christmas and Halloween and Valentine’s Day and Easter are not the only holidays that are present on campus, and there are so many more things you can celebrate and share with people,” Memon said.

Singh shared her goals with Indus moving forward.

“To accommodate for an increase in population, I definitely want to make events more frequent,” Singh said. “With the club, I want to have more kinds of discussion panels where people can come in and talk about the South Asian experience in the U.S. or the immigration experience, and I just want to create a safe space for international and South Asian American students alike to just come hang out and feel like they belong.”

Attendees gather for a night of food, dancing and singing performances.

COURTESY OF INDUS

Students perform to the audience of banquet attendees.

COURTESY OF INDUS

Members of UC Santa Barbara’s Los Curanderos reflected on the organization’s event programming and revitalization this academic year, particularly noting their May conference that gathered local high school students to learn about navigating the healthcare world as Latine individuals.

Los Curanderos is a Latine pre-health organization that aims to diversify the healthcare field through social activism and community events.

The group organizes weekly local speakers who come to meetings to discuss topics like imposter syndrome, maintains a mentorship program between underclassmen and upperclassmen and organizes conferences to various locations in California.

This year’s conference on May 13 — titled “Healing Our Communities” (HOC) — bussed over 30 high school students from Hueneme High School, Pacifica High School and Channel Islands High School to tour the UCSB campus, participate in workshops and learn about the healthcare profession.

“We chose Hueneme, Pacifica, and Channel Islands, because we identified them as the lowest income and having the highest Latinx population, so even though the bus was more expensive we thought it would have a bigger impact,” Los Curanderos Co-Chair and recent UCSB graduate Charles Crane said in a statement to the Nexus. The conference aimed to educate the high school attendees on the process of applying to

colleges as well as generally spread knowledge about the medical field.

“I’m actually from Oxnard, so I went to these schools and had the knowledge of the funding and lack of resources [at these institutions],” said HOC Chair and fourth-year psychological & brain sciences major Martha Garcia. “This event was mainly to help fill that gap and allow these students an opportunity to be able to have more of an equal chance.”

The conference featured a reef and campus tour; workshops on admissions, financial aid and course requirements; UCSB student panelists and a keynote speaker.

“If [students] wanted to come because they wanted to come into the medical field, that was great because we had presentations on pre-health tracks and such … but it was just more so for the overall knowledge and opportunity to visit the campus and know what it’s like,” Garcia said.

Like other organizations at UCSB, Crane said Los Curanderos struggled at the onset of COVID19, causing events like the annual HOC conference to take a back seat in 2019.

“COVID hit, and our work with the Mixteco community, it was hard to bring that back,” Crane said in an interview with the Nexus. “This year, we decided that it was time to bring a lot of things back.”

He applauded the organization’s efforts to secure over $5,000 in funding to bring the conference to fruition, speaking to the group’s greater effort to revitalize its mission for the community.

“Again it was just such a great day and so many students

talked about benefiting from the program, in person, writing ‘thanks for helping me decide what I want to do with my future’ on the review forms, or posting something on instagram showing gratitude,” Crane said in the statement.

Garcia spoke about coming from an underserved community with little resources regarding college applications, and said she feels a personal purpose to hosting such conferences and pursuing Los Curanderos’ mission as an organization.

“I was at a school that did not have resources that exposed us to applying to college … It was something not really talked about, which needs to change in these communities because it’s

already being underserved and under-resourced,” she said.

Garcia emphasized how critical it is to expose such high school students to college campuses like UCSB to showcase that the opportunity does and can exist for them.

“Having that exposure is really important because it starts instilling that idea and that thought of, ‘I could be here and this could be me,” she said. “That’s something really important to be able to even increase the number of Hispanics and Latinos in not only the medical field, but just in higher education in general.”

Los Curanderos co-Chair and fourth-year biological sciences major Vanessa Sedano Ojeda echoed Garcia’s sentiment,

highlighting the importance of having representation for college students that come from similar backgrounds at these conferences.

“A big part of specifically the Healing Our Communities conference was seeing people that come from similar backgrounds, that are Latinx and come from Oxnard, come from a lowerincome background,” she said.

“It’s seeing representation at the college level … it’s seeing representation in the medical field.”

Cranes expanded on the general lack of representation in the medical field, saying that it can lead to various language barriers between patients and medical professionals.

“There’s such a lack of diversity

in healthcare, a lack of people who speak Spanish, a lack of people who understand the culture,” he said. “Having this diversity is so essential because it creates better patient outcomes, better patient care and shows people that, at the end of the day, these barriers can be overcome.”

Cranes said the conference and Los Curanderos’ events all center on the organization’s main focus: to provide community support and serve as representation for future Latine medical professionals.

“There is a place for you in the medical field. You’re wanted, and you’re needed,” Cranes said. “You can do it no matter what, and we’ll be here as a resource for you.”

Los Curanderos is a Latine pre-health organization that aims to diversify the healthcare field.

COURTESY OF LOS CURANDEROS

The university community joins together to give praise and thanks to those graduates who have demonstrated excellence during their years here.

The Thomas More Storke Award for Excellence

symbolized by a bronze medal forged by Francis Minturn Sedgwick, is given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship and extraordinary service to the university, its students, and the community. This year this distinction is awarded to:

Cameran Bahnsen

The Jeremy D. Friedman Memorial Award

is presented in grateful recognition of outstanding leadership, scholastic excellence, and innovative contribution to student and community life at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in memory of Jeremy D. Friedman, undergraduate 1979-83. This year’s recipient is:

Annika Katarina Sanchez

Alyce Marita Whitted Memorial Award

This award, established in 1993, is presented to one non-traditional graduating senior who has demonstrated endurance, persistence, and courage in the face of extraordinary challenges while in pursuit of an academic degree This year ’ s recipient is:

Hyun Joo (Jena) Lee

Yonie Harris Award for Civility in Public Discourse

is presented to graduates who best exemplify the principles of free speech and respectful dialogue and who foster a campus climate of civility and open-mindedness This year's recipients are:

Jamaal Muwwakkil & Gurleen Pabla

Michael D. Young Engaged Scholar Award

This award recognizes the legacy of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus, Michael D Young, particularly his commitment to empowering students toward principled leadership It is awarded to students who have skillfully integrated their scholarly knowledge and/or values into action This year ’ s recipient is:

Laura Pritschet

University Award of Distinction

The following seniors and graduate students have been selected as recipients of this year ’ s University Award of Distinction, given to students who have contributed greatly to the quality of life by giving unselfish service to others within a particular area

Stephanie Arguera Farahi

Andy Barrera Rios

Alex Castillo

Xochitl S Clare

Levin Atticus Fetzer

Rylee Gartside

Ethan George

Madison Heard

Larry Huynh

Aidan Manousos

Kendall Martin

Alex Mei

Adryanna Navarro

Catherine Parker

Emily Xiuhtecuhtli Perez

Lillian Poe

Vani Singhania

Evann Smith

University Service Award

Summer Spink

Doris Wei

Jennifer Yuri Yoshikoshi

Michael Zargari

Keren Zou

The following seniors and graduate students have been selected as recipients of this year ’ s University Service Award, given in recognition of unselfish and dedicated service to the University, its students, and the community

Clare Anne Agustin

Adam Bagul

Maria Castillejo Huanosta

Emily Banh Duong

Rachel Farnum

Logan Greenough

Anusikha Halder

Vanessa Hill

Avni Liana Joglekar

Emily Kocis

Erik Magaña

Callan Nowacki

Ashley Pham

Anabel Rocha Ambrosio

Vanessa Sedano Ojeda

Kaitlin Enedina Segovia

Hailey Stankiewicz

Nicholas Wrubel

Zichun Yang

Vice Chancellor’s Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship

This award is presented annually to one or more graduating seniors and graduate students who embrace the principles of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship through activities that enhance UCSB’s academic environment, contributions to a consequential project, or extraordinary service to the campus community

Nazrawi Allen

Eliza Ann Garcia

Daniel Huecias

Kylah Jordan

Sophie Kimura

Krystalyn Cortez Llanes

Love Tai-Thembi Maia

Sean Tran

Angela Carolina Valdez

Mortar Board Award

Junjie Ye

Christian Zuniga

Xiangying Zuo

The Mortar Board Award is given each year in recognition of the graduating senior having the highest cumulative grade point average in the graduating class, combined with the fewest number of transfer units This year ’ s recipient will be announced at the ceremony

Award winners, their families, & interested faculty & staff are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 3:30pm in Corwin Pavilion

Flex your schedule: The best time to hit the Recreation Center

Jake Jensema Staff Writer

The UC Santa Barbara Recreation Center is one of the most soughtafter destinations on campus, drawing in a staggering number of visitors each day. The Recreation Center boasts three primary fitness buildings, one of which has recently reopened following renovations to the air ventilation system. In addition to a sprawling outdoor area, this Recreation Center is the go-to spot for all UCSB students looking to work up a sweat. Given the high volume of foot traffic, it

can be challenging to determine the optimal time to drop by. That’s why we’ve conducted a comprehensive data analysis to uncover trends and patterns, providing valuable insights to answer the burning question: When is the optimal time to visit the Recreation Center?

Data was collected from Fall Quarter 2019 and Fall Quarter 2022. Visualization of the data illustrates that the number of individuals visiting the Recreation Center varies from hour to hour, peaking around 9 a.m. and later from 4-5 p.m. Such information can be utilized by facility managers and staff to

optimize the center’s services, staffing and hours of operation, ultimately enhancing the overall experience of visitors.

“I have worked at the Rec for a year and a half and my experience working here has been amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better job. My coworkers are awesome, the environment is always positive and also it makes it easy to work out every day because I’m already there working,” said communications and global studies double major and Recreation Center operations assistant Jacquelin Groswirt.

In regards to the Recreation

Center schedule, Groswirt said that it is customary to have two individuals present at the front desk at all times, regardless of the hour. However, she said that accounting for the times where more people enter the recreation center would be beneficial in ensuring that they have sufficient staff coverage.

Trevor Bagan, a third-year economics major, and Jacob Harden, a first-year economics major, are both frequent visitors to the Recreation Center who prefer to hit the gym at either early afternoon or later at night to avoid the 4-5 p.m. rush hour.

“Lately I’ve been going to the Recreation Center first thing in the morning, usually from 8-10 a.m., but on some days I might have a late start and defer to later in the evening after I’ve finished my school work,” Bagan said.

Harden tries to plan his visits to the gym ahead of time.

“I do a mix of both [early and late]. I try to make a schedule that allows me to go at 11 a.m. every day if possible. I just enjoy going at that time and there aren’t too many people,” Harden said.

The Recreation Center’s visitation is impacted by midterm and finals weeks during each quarter.

“The busiest time is typically in the early or late afternoon, depending on the time of year [quarter], such as during midterm and finals week,” said third-year communication major and Recreation Center social media specialist Laney Chao.

“I would say it depends not just on the time of day, but also what part of the quarter it is. The beginning of the quarter is usually busy, and midterm and finals weeks are less busy,” said second-year statistics and data science major Pesk Son.

During midterm and finals week, there is a noticeable decrease in

The heatmap chart reveals that the peak time for visitors is 4-5 p.m. on Mondays, with more than 300 people hitting the Recreation Center during that hour. In contrast, the early morning and late-night hours see consistently low foot traffic throughout the week. This begs the question: Why do these off-peak times have such low attendance?

“I don’t have the energy to work out when I wake up, and by the time my day is done, I’m too tired. Going in the middle of the day fits my schedule, and I have enough energy to get a good workout in,” said third-year political science major Will Macy.

With busy schedules and demanding coursework, it can be difficult to find the motivation and energy to work out very early in the morning or late at night. For many, the evening is the most convenient time to fit in a workout. Additionally, working out during this time can provide a much-needed break from classes and studying and can even boost productivity and focus.

Our analysis provides some information that visitors can use to their advantage. Avoiding crowds and scheduling one’s visit to the

The chart features a gradient scale that provides a visual representation of the Recreation Center’s visitor count. The scale ranges from blue, indicating a low number of visitors, to red, representing a high number of visitors. The more red visible on the chart, the busier the Recreation Center is at that particular time.

Every year the Daily Nexus compiles a list of categories that make Isla Vista, Isla Vista. We then share those places and things with the UC Santa Barbara community so we can elect a winner for each category. The winners were chosen by the community and the content is written by the editorial staff. Our aim is to celebrate the places on and off campus that make this place our home and hard to say goodbye to as we graduate and leave for the summer.

It’s no wonder that Starbucks has become virtually synonymous with the word ‘coffee.’ Since its creation in 1971, it’s risen to become the world’s largest coffeehouse chain — and a staple in millions of people’s morning routines. From flavored lattes and “frappuccinos” to teas and lemonades, they have almost anything you could possibly want in terms of beverages — and at very reasonable prices. If that weren’t enough, they also have a wide selection of bakery and snack items, including my personal favorite, the mouth-watering Bacon, Gouda & Egg Sandwich. But, if you’d prefer to keep it simple, you can always get a cup of delicious roast or ground coffee, including their house Pike Place Roast. There are no wrong choices at Starbucks, and I can guarantee there is something for everyone. In my opinion, Starbucks also stands apart from competition with their app, through which you can order ahead, pay in store, earn rewards and more. The I.V. Starbucks, in particular, is a great place to go and study because of the store’s proximity to campus, its cozy atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff. Plus, there’s nothing like a hot beverage and a sweet treat to motivate you to write that essay!

Located at 901 Embarcadero Del Mar, Kaiju Ramen & Curry is often frequented for its boba, with a variety of flavors for I.V. goers to quench their thirst. Highlights include their hokkaido milk tea and dirty latte, as well as

nondairy alternatives for vegans and the lactose intolerant. An array of non-milk based teas are available as well, including the tart citrus lemon tea and gently sweet wintermelon green tea. There’s truly something for everyone — including the boba averse, who can choose toppings such as egg pudding and grass jelly — and after one sip, you’re sure to return for more.

Is there any other experience that can match the bliss of sharing a reasonably priced, refreshing pitcher of Cali Squeeze with your besties — perhaps paired with Cinnabread — while spilling your deepest, darkest secrets with each other in a cozy booth at Woodstock’s? You simply can’t beat Woodstock’s $9.99 pitchers after 9 p.m. deal — I mean, unless Woodstock’s decides to extend this deal to seven nights a week instead of just from Monday to Friday. Plus, it’s not like you’re spending time in Woodstock’s before 9 p.m. on a weekday anyway unless you’re underage (sorry underclassmen!). Let’s make things clear, the pitchers actually come out to be around $11 instead of $9, but Woodstock’s “Nine$ After 9” is still the best price for a pitcher in Isla Vista and is half the price

of standard pitchers served on weekends. Woodstock’s beer menu has something for everyone: Bud Light for those with less refined tastes, Captain Fatty’s IPA for the UC Santa Barbara alumni in their 30s paying their respects to alma mater with a nostalgic night at Woodstock’s, and Boochcraft for the girlies who hate the taste of alcohol. Not only is this deal helpful for large groups looking to have a wild night without hurting their wallets, but it’s also a great deal to take advantage of on a first date. It’s common knowledge that Isla Vista residents aren’t known for planning the most romantic dates, but if your date isn’t even willing to pay for a $9.99 pitcher of Bud Light, which they most definitely will drink more of than you, they are not second date material. Thank you Woodstock’s for unknowingly providing us with the ultimate test to weed out potential partners and serving the most affordable pitchers in town!

Despite officially opening at the start of Winter Quarter 2023, IV Pizza Pub has already amassed a dedicated student fan base. Loyal customers of the shop’s predecessor, Pizza My Heart, were relieved to find that new owner Doron Friedman kept the menu, ambiance and staff consistent. Friedman, who also founded and owns local business IV Bagel Cafe, wished to prevent another New York-inspired I.V. business from permanently leaving town by purchasing Pizza My Heart’s equipment and recipes, hiring the Pizza My Heart management staff, and

even keeping the same location. With Pizza My Heart’s award-winning creative recipes, Friedman clearly understood that you shouldn’t mess with perfection. From the massive slices of thin-crust pizza piled high with fresh toppings, to the laid-back atmosphere, IV Pizza Pub continues Pizza My Heart’s tradition of good food and good energy. However, students have undeniably come to embrace IV Pizza Pub’s augmented menu, which now serves IV Bagel Cafe favorites, NYC Breakfast Pizzas and mimosas on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Whether you drop by for hangover-curing brunch or late-night pitchers, you’re sure to leave IV Pizza Pub satisfied.

Everybody loves tacos and everybody loves pop-up shops that sell various things in our quaint town of Isla Vista. The geniuses at Roger’s Tacos combined these two things and made a masterpiece. Intoxicated individuals in the area can always rely on Roger’s Tacos to help with their greasy food cravings. The tacos are so good, campus organizations know that if they get Roger’s Tacos to help them fundraise, there will be a line down the street. The prices are fair and their payment methods are easy. If

you do not have any physical forms of payment, they conveniently take Venmo. The number of drunk and sober students alike who have been able to pay for their food because of this is unmeasurable. Mexican food in Santa Barbara is at its best, which is exactly why Roger’s Tacos is so good. They understand who they are competing with, and they make sure their food gives other locations a run for their money. Their menu is simple, but their flavor is most definitely not. All the meats they offer have a unique taste that has every customer asking for seconds. Without Roger’s Tacos, Isla Vista would be a less delicious place.

CAROLYN LI DAILY NEXUS

SHIUAN CHENG / DAILY NEXUS

CLAIRE VOSSLER / DAILY NEXUS

SHIUAN CHENG / DAILY NEXUS

CAROLYN LI DAILY NEXUS

Im sooooooooo fucked up right now hahahahahhahahhaaaaaaa oh, where are we??? What is this, heaven?? WHAT??? You took me to I.V. Deli Mart just like I asked two blocks ago, but I dont remembrerrer because im so fucked up right now??? MY FAVORITE. THE BEST DRUNCHIES. I.V. DELI MART. YES.

The blinding fluorescent lights of I.V. Deli Mart on a typical weekend night attract the drunk wanderers of Isla Vista streets like moths to a flame. A beacon of hope in the darkness of the early hours of the morning, the tireless cooks and cashiers do the work of angels feeding the swarms their every hope

A well-loved establishment in Isla Vista, Sam’s To Go has been dishing out classic sandwiches since 1981. The locally-owned sandwich shop’s four locations in Santa Barbara County are a further testament to its popularity. While it’s fun to experiment with food, sometimes you might want to keep things classic and simple with a ham and cheese sandwich or a BLT, both of which Sam’s To Go has down to a science. Crafted with all the fixings and made on your choice of bread, you can’t go wrong with choosing from any of the sandwich shop’s 17 options. If you’re just looking for a quick bite after an afternoon at the beach, look no further than Sam’s To Go’s appetizer menu that includes chicken tenders, onion rings, fries and more. Their outdoor patio is the perfect place to share some subs, fries and a pitcher with friends while soaking up the Isla Vista sunshine.

Picture this: It’s 10 p.m. and your meeting (that started at 7 p.m.) just ended. You thought you’d catch Carrillo for a late dinner, clamoring through the glass doors at 8:29 — a minute before the cutoff — all sweaty and victorious and excited to eat some stir-fry.

Time to consider some other options. What’s

open this late, anyway? You stumble across I.V., eyeing familiar restaurants, envisioning yourself chewing a slice of pizza or munching on some mac and cheese, yet none of them seem appealing tonight. Then, you see it.

The bright red “CUCAS RESTAURANT” sign, the tantalizing neon letters spelling “OPEN,” urging you to venture inside.

You’re feeling like breakfast-for-dinner, and fortunately, their breakfast burritos are available all day. Step inside, place your order, the man taking your order asks you what the highlight of your day was and you say lunch — though you know it’s about to be dinner.

The order in question: the Cuca’s Breakfast Burrito and the Passion Fruit Agua Fresca to pair.

Within minutes, it’s on the table for you. You unwrap the foil and dip it in some salsa. At once, the eggs, cheese and potatoes meld together in your mouth, the optimal combination of flavors to cure you from the Monday Blues. Your hungry mind concocts the image of fireworks before you, electric hues of cobalt and algae, a thrill you never anticipated feeling while eating a burrito. Now that the tunnel vision of your hunger is widened, a realization dawns upon you.

You never wanted stir-fry.

With a vast assortment of treats and speedy means of delivery, Duffl is the best snackdelivery service in Isla Vista. No matter the time or place, Duffl will provide you with cravings when you need them most, arriving at your door in 10 minutes or less.

and dream in the form of delicious drunchies.

From the wide array of chips, snacks and drinks to the scrumptious hot food menu, I.V. Deli Mart is a safe haven for the inebriated living their best life in pursuit of the perfect wings to top off their (un)memorable night.

From the sandwiches to the fries, every part of I.V. Deli Mart screams a melody of drunk, greasy, mouthwatering scrumptiousness. No store layout has ever been so navegable while the world is blurry and twirling in every direction. No, I.V. Deli Mart pulls you along until the current gets you to your final destination — the cold hard tables outside, enjoying a good grilled cheese and chatting aimlessly as you take it all in. Thank you I.V. Deli Mart!

I have never been in a more deranged, intolerable state than when I have indulged in the fine dining that is I.V. Bagel Cafe on a sunny Saturday morning. The warm, wafting smell of bagels greets me with a kind embrace as I step inside of the EDM sauna to order God’s gift to frat guys, sexy ladies and party people: the Super Emma. Sitting down on a bright yellow chair to be told tales of the atrocities I committed the night before, I have never felt more accepted for wearing my hoodie and sweatpants of choice, a full face

of last nights mascara and death in my eyes as my hangover beats my head like a banging drum. After a short two million years, my order number is screamed out like bloody murder and my rebirth has come. Emma is ready, and she sure is super. With two bites, my hangover is honorably cured by sweet bagel juices and a healthy amount of sprouts to balance out the perfectly overloaded amounts of cheese, and I am whole again. I can feel my toes, the wind in my hair and my ears still ringing from the night before. Thank you I.V. Bagel Cafe, my heart will always be deliciously slathered in your pesto cream cheese.

Duffl partners with local businesses such as I.V. Drip, encouraging students to search locally for their snacking needs. They are also sure to entertain students with their sexual innuendos and puns written with Sharpie on their iconic orange bags. If Duffl does anything besides deliver delicious goods, it’s making their clients laugh. Rain or shine, you are sure to see one of their employees in a bright orange helmet and vest scootering down Pardall Road.

Easily recognizable with their vibrant colors, Duffl serves as a lifesaver for desperate college students requiring a pick-me-up. Duffl competes with Snag in I.V., but Duffl’s expedient service leads the UC Santa Barbara community to place them ontop. Duffl also encourages fun purchases from the comfort of your home, providing alternative goods such as ping pong balls and pink wigs.

Duffl exists as an odd liaison between college life and corporate structure. Regardless, they succeed in their niche and encourage late-night shopping within I.V. The next time you get the munchies, you know who to call.

Whether it’s for a grab-and-go midnight snack or some Tylenol to relieve your

midterm season headaches, 7-Eleven has you covered 24/7. This year, 7-Eleven won the title of “Best Convenience Store” in Isla Vista. Their wide selection of drinks, snacks, toiletries and other basic necessities makes this a great stop for busy UC Santa Barbara students. The store is easily accessible, as a 5-minute walk from campus as well as convenient for those heading from campus to their apartments in Isla Vista. In addition, 7-Eleven caters to those wanting a cheap and convenient meal, whether it be some warm pepperoni pizza or a chilled chicken caesar salad.

In addition to its great selection and quick service 7-Eleven, the convenience store has a 7Rewards loyalty program where individuals can earn and redeem points after purchasing items. 7Rewards can be used to get discounts or even free products.

Overall, 7-Eleven ticks many boxes to become a popular site for UCSB students and be proclaimed as the “Best Convenience Store” amongst UCSB students.

Stepping onto University Road, students may encounter a man with a large lens camera squatting near the Arbor and the university Library. Manning the public @ivstreets Instagram account, fifth-year Santa Barbara City College student Callahan Morgan is a local photographer who takes free photos of campus community members taking a stride across various walkways at the university. From capturing students’s

outfits to highlighting on-campus protests, Morgan has made a name for himself in the UCSB campus community through his high-quality photography. He has also expanded his coverage to the local Isla Vista grounds, taking clear shots of students at house parties, local bars and more. Culminating over 6,000 followers on Instagram, Morgan posts daily with moments of people smiling, laughing and posing for the lone student with a camera. The portfolio he’s curated is undeniably UCSB and Isla Vista.

I like to think of myself as a sophisticated young lady, pulled together but not overly stuffy and always presentable. However, as the quarter progresses, my hair will gradually start to resemble a rat king and my cuticles will spontaneously combust, leaving me in a precarious position with hot girl summer just around the corner. That’s why an accessible beauty lounge is such an important asset to the fine young residents of Isla Vista — when a tornado of finals inevitably hits the student population, a quick walk to IV Beauty Lounge can refresh even the most raggedy-ass-looking frogs into the hottest kings and queens. I remember many a time when I would claw my way out of the

comforting recesses of my bed and shuffle down the street to IV Beauty Lounge for my monthly appointments with Annie, the owner and head nail technician responsible for keeping hundreds of hands snatched and spotless. She would meticulously fix up my nail beds and cuticles, buff them to oblivion and carefully polish them until they could blind an unsuspecting passerby. As Annie’s business expanded, IV Beauty Lounge began to offer hair and waxing services along with nail services. I, like many others, am a happy patron of many years and have found myself becoming attached to this business and its charismatic owner. Annie’s family often comes in to visit her, adding to the homey, inviting atmosphere of the salon that I’m sure will continue to enchant the residents of Isla Vista for many years to come.

What time is it?

Consisting of second-year psychological & brain sciences and sociology double major Avital Schwarz (vocals), secondyear economics major Gaurav Chakravarty (guitar), third-year environmental science major Michael Aguirre (bass), Isla Vista resident Luke Hand (drums) and fifth-year applied-math major and music minor Tim Guan (keyboard), Spoontime, a pop rock band, made their Isla Vista debut in January 2023.

Spoontime was formed when Schwarz, who wanted to continue performing after her old band ended, reached out to Chakravarty and Aguirre about potentially playing together. The three of them then met Hand and Guan and subsequently recruited them to the band. The quirky name was the product of latenight brainstorming. Spunky and unique, the name perfectly encapsulates the fresh spirit Spoontime brings to I.V.

“It was 3 a.m. and I was writing down

random things that came into mind trying to think of a band name, and that one kinda just stuck,” Schwarz said.

Despite being relatively new, the band has built up their presence as one of I.V.’s standout groups from the past year, flooding the streets with rock, indie and pop covers. Some Spoontime favorites include “Seventeen” by Peach Pit, “Just A Girl” by No Doubt and “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. Spoontime shows are always packed. The band’s audience consists of fans or people just wandering the streets of I.V., drawn to the sound of music. Frequently playing in front of the iconic bright green wall of the Dolores Huerta Co-Op, the crowd is always full of positive vibes and infectious energy.

Schwarz commented on the “Spoontime Effect,” saying “When we are performing, it feels like we’re all contributing to this ball of energy that we send out to the crowd and they send it back even bigger. It’s this cycle of growing energy and joy and awesomeness.”

Follow @spoontime_band on Instagram for upcoming shows. For it’s always time for Spoontime.

Founded in Winter Quarter 2022 to bring a little funk and soul into Isla Vista, Mindfunk aims to “create space for community healing,” as described in the band’s Instagram bio.

Although the band is new, most members met through the UCSB jazz program and have been playing together for a while. When they finally upgraded from university performances to apartment art shows, the band was formed, and the guitarist, fifthyear mechanical engineering major Chris Villarino, became the host of all shows.

And then the topic of a band name. Sticking to the theme of playing funk music, ‘funk’ was a nonnegotiable part of the brainstorming session. ‘Mind’ was added to reflect what the audience may experience during their set. And so “Mindfunk” was born.

First-year doctoral student in the department of ecology, evolution and marine biology Sriram Ramamurthy (trombone), fifth-year mechanical engineering major Villarino (guitar), fourth-year statistics major and music minor Bill Tran (drums), fourthyear environmental studies major Ryan Lewis

(vocals), third-year environmental studies major Emily Conway (bass), third-year chemistry major Moremi Kaplan (saxophone), third-year environmental studies major and music minor Liam Coggon (saxophone), second-year philosophy major Jack Corliss (keyboard) and second-year computer science major Evan Asakawa (trumpet), have played classic Isla Vista band parties together but also front yard half pipes and downtown breweries.

“Playing with Mindfunk was the first time I ever performed in I.V., and from our very first gig together I knew that I.V. crowds were one-of-a-kind. The energy that concerts in I.V. have is unexplainable, and I am just super glad to be a part of a scene this special,” Tran said.

Adding to the staple guitar-bass-drumsvocals band setup, Mindfunk lets its jazz roots shine through with trumpets, trombones and saxophones, which undoubtedly creates an unmistakable sound and broadens the range of songs to craft a set from. Tran’s favorites include “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by D’Angelo and “Fopp” by Ohio Players. Follow @mindfunkiv on Instagram for show highlights and announcements.

COURTESY OF @SPOONTIME_BAND

COURTESY OF @MINDFUNKIV

CAROLYN LI DAILY NEXUS

As an introvert, karaoke in a public setting is my worst nightmare. After avoiding public humiliation for three years, I finally committed to going outside of my comfort zone and attending Wednesday-night karaoke. And, I can say, while I was briefly embarrassed, it immediately went away as more and more people got up on the stage and sang their renditions of Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. I went into the night swearing that I would not get on stage. But after seeing how supportive the crowd was, singing along so loud that I could not even hear the singer on stage, I decided to go up

with my housemates. As the opening notes of “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood played, I began to think, “Oh god, what did I get myself into?” But the crowd went wild, cheering us on and jumping around to the music. After a couple lines into the song, people in the crowd stopped paying attention to us, turning to their friend circles to dance and sing. After we finished screaming Carrie Underwood into the microphone, my housemates and I were all eager to sing another song. Karaoke, specifically Rockfire Grill karaoke, is an experience for everyone. Whether you’re an observer or a performer, it is bound to get you up and singing with people you’ve never met before — yet it feels like you’ve known them forever.

Avoid the walk of shame and join the invasion!

Zippy green machines have taken over the streets. Lime scooters have arrived, and they’re here to add a whole new level of glee to our chaotic beachside town.

Imagine walking along the streets, minding your own business, when suddenly you spot someone zooming by on a Lime scooter. They’re zipping past you at lightning-fast speed, the wind blowing in their hair and a look with some parts of terror and excitement on their face. But let’s not forget the people who have yet to master the art of Lime scootering. They wobble, swerve, and occasionally crash into parked

The best smoke spot is a tough competition when we are lucky enough to go to school on such a beautiful campus. There’s plenty of places for people to gather and enjoy a good view, whether it be on campus or off. However, it is undeniable that a late night walk along the bluffs is the most beautiful spot to smoke at UCSB. When the night sky is clear and you can sit and look up at the stars, blasting music, there is nothing quite like it.

Not only are the bluffs absolutely beautiful, they are also nicely secluded and have plenty of spots for all the stoners to sit at without bothering anyone else. It’s peaceful, quiet and, if you’re lucky like me, you might even be able to catch some snorkeler’s flashlights bobbing through the water late at night. If you are incredibly high like me when you see them, you might assume it’s an underwater monster that has finally come to get you. Fun times! Overall, of all the smoke spots, the bluffs will always be the best. There’s no place quite like the beach to get high, and it’s even better with a nice view. See you tonight, stoners!

Lined with rows of historical and political knowledge, the fourth floor is the place for avid learners to dive into the intricacies of our world’s story. The first time I walked past the low ceilings at the entrance, I was filled with a sense of anticipation at the treasure trove of collective knowledge that awaits beyond. Upon reaching the center — a majestic grand hall — I felt the dark atmosphere come alive with vibrant energy. Students gather, exchange ideas and work on the latest homework problem or study for their upcoming test. The modern orange and blue yet rustic aesthetic

Picture this: You finally got out of her DMs, finally arranged a time and now all that’s left is a place. First impressions matter — you can’t just take her to Cajé and call it a date. So what to do? The clock is ticking; it’s been three minutes! Fret not, my darling reader, for I know a spot. Hear me out … the bluffs. I know, I know, but the fact of the matter is that the bluffs are ranked No. 1 by the UC Santa Barbara campus! Best hours are during sunset, of course, and hopefully the sky is clear so that you can really appreciate the multiple colors of the gorgeous sky. You can always start off with a little hot girl walk; maybe even get a little drink so your hands are not empty. The walk there should be enough to spark riveting conversation (you got this). Once you arrive at the bluffs, (my preferred is Devs entrance), park by a bench or, if you come prepared, on a blanket on the ground so you can really be one with nature. The views never get old and the waves will bring you all the luck you need. One of the best reasons to hit the bluffs (in my opinion) is because if ever you get a little awkward, you can just stare off into the ocean as if in deep thought! Either way, the gorgeous scenery, the peaceful sounds and the great company are sure to get you a second date.

provides an ideal place to hang out, chat, study and collaborate, and the windows provide breathtaking, expansive views of the campus. As the day turned to night, I felt the space become enveloped in a soothing chatter weaved in with occasional laughter, which fostered collaborative intellectual exploration within my study group. We zoned in on our studying, and we finally figured out how to solve the last vector calculus problem that we had been stuck on for a while. In this captivating ambiance, the fourth floor becomes a home for ideas to flourish and for those seeking knowledge and connection.

P.S. this is being written on the fourth floor.

bicycles like they’re playing a real-life game of scooter pinball. It’s a never-ending source of entertainment for the drivers and the bystanders, who cheer them on with laughter.

Oh, and have you ever seen a Lime scooter parked in the most outrageous places? They’re like urban sculptures, perched on top of mailboxes, nestled in trees and even precariously balanced on top of each other. Isla Vista has become a modern art installation, where even scooters are trying to find their place in this whimsical world.

So, my dear Isla Vista residents, embrace the lime invasion! Let these zippy contraptions bring joy, laughter and a healthy dose of chaos to our streets. After all, life is more exciting when you’re dodging Lime scooters left and right!

MADDY FANGIO DAILY NEXUS

MADDY FANGIO / DAILY NEXUS

SHIUAN CHENG / DAILY NEXUS

CAROLYN LI / DAILY NEXUS

Thursday, June 1, 2023

The Miami Heat win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to avoid the reverse sweep. Jimmy Butler earned ECF MVP, going 24.7/7.6/6.1. The Heat are set to play the Denver Nuggets in the NBA finals on June 1.

SPORTS

The 2022-23 school year was a successful one for UC Santa Barbara Athletics. Many programs had great seasons that should be remembered for years to come. Gaucho fans should take pride in the accomplishments made by the teams they root for while remaining hopeful that the best is yet to come. As the school year comes to a close and we look back, here are the most successful UCSB teams from this year, Men’s Basketball: The UCSB

men’s basketball team had arguably their best season in program history. With a 27-8 overall record, head coach Joe Pasternack’s squad broke a program record for most wins in a season. Additionally, the record was good enough to win the Gauchos a two-way tie with UC Irvine for the Big West regular season championship. Led by the Big West Player of the Year, sophomore guard Ajay Mitchell, the Gauchos were able to string together three straight postseason wins against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton to clinch the Big

West tournament championship and a spot in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament as No. 13. In their first matchup, UCSB fell to a superior Baylor University team, but their season should be considered a success as they look to build for the future.

Women’s Basketball; When the season began, no one expected the UCSB women’s basketball team to be one win away from a spot in March Madness, but that is exactly what happened. In fact, many pundits predicted they would be near the bottom of the Big West standings. However, the Gauchos exceeded

expectations and finished as the No. 5 in the Big West. The magic continued for UCSB as they were able to win two straight games to earn the right to play in the Big West Championship game. The Gauchos fell short to University of Hawai’i, but the team should be proud that they proved doubters wrong as they continue in their attempts to win the Big West.

Men’s Tennis: The men’s tennis squad at UCSB had a season that was hard to forget. After finishing the season with a stellar 5-1 conference record, which saw the team acquire the first seed in the Big West, the team beat the University of Hawai’i in the semifinals and UC Irvine in the championship game to take home the 2023 Big West men’s tennis championship. Like with the men’s basketball team, this trophy gave the Gauchos a spot in the national tournament. However, this tournament run would be short-lived, as UCSB fell to the University of San Diego in the first round by a score of 4-1. Regardless of the outcome of their final game of the year, the men’s tennis team had a great season, which the Gaucho faithful hope will become the norm.

Men’s Soccer: Coming into the year, expectations were high for the UCSB men’s soccer team. The squad did not disappoint, as they acquired a conference record of 4-1-4, which was the second-best record in the Big West Conference; only behind UC Riverside. The team had some postseason success as well, as they appeared in the championship game after their semifinal overtime victory over UC Irvine. Unfortunately, the Gauchos’ season ended with a close 1-0 defeat at the hands of UC Riverside. The team will look to build on this success as they contend for Big West titles.

UCSB commit George Bruening has been selected to join the USA Volleyball U21 National Training Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup.

The UC Santa Barbara baseball team has been cold, ending their season with four losses, three of which coming from their series against the University of Hawai’i.

In the first game of the series, UCSB was absolutely dominated, resulting in a major loss.

In the top of the 1st inning, the Gauchos loaded the bases, as a single by sophomore catcher Aaron Parker brought in junior outfielder Jared Sundstrom. This gave the Gauchos a 1-0 lead as sophomore pitcher Matt Ager closed out the bottom of the 1st, allowing no runs.

Similar to the 1st, the 2nd inning saw the bases loaded again for UCSB, but the Gauchos were unable to bring in any runs this time. In the bottom of the 2nd, Hawai’i tied the game with a solo homer. The Rainbow Warriors continued to score as they scored five more runs this inning, giving themselves a 6-1 lead. The Rainbow Warriors built onto their lead in the 3rd inning, scoring another 3 runs to extend their lead to 9-1.

Junior pitcher JD Callahan kept Hawai’i off the board allowing no runs in the 4th and 5th innings. However, the Gauchos were unable to find success at the plate throughout these innings. After

shutting out Hawai’i in the two innings prior, Callahan gave up 5 runs in the 6th and another 3 in the 8th. After a scoreless 9th inning, the Rainbow Warriors came up victorious with a 17-1 win.

In the second game of the series, the Gauchos found more success on the mound and at the plate, but they were still slightly outmatched.

UCSB struck first when senior outfielder Christian Kirtley went yard to score 3 runs in the top of the 1st. Freshman pitcher Hudson Barrett allowed no runs in the bottom of the 1st, preserving Gauchos’ lead.

Barrett gave up a run in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings, shortening the Gauchos’ lead to 3-2. In the bottom of the 4th, the Rainbow Warriors put up 2 more runs, taking the lead from the Gauchos, making it 4-3 Hawai’i.

After a scoreless 5th inning, Hawai’i scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th, extending their lead to 8-3.

In the 7th, the Gauchos got a run back after Sundstrom hit a triple to score a run. Later on in the 9th inning, the Gauchos scored another run, but they fell just short, losing 8-5 to Hawai’i.

UCSB continued to struggle against Hawai’i, losing the last game of the series.

In the top of the 1st inning, the Gauchos struck first once again as sophomore outfielder Ivan

Brethowr hit a home run to bring in 2 runs.

The Gauchos’ lead did not last very long as Hawai’i scored one run in the first, 3 in the 3rd and 4 in the 4th to give the Rainbow Warriors a 6-run lead.

UCSB cut the lead after scoring 4 runs in the top of the 5th inning, now only down by 3 runs.

In a very eventful 6th inning, the Gauchos scored another two runs,

however the Rainbow Warriors scored two runs as well, extending the score to 10-8.

The Gauchos tied up the game at 11 in a 3-run 8th inning, but Hawai’i pulled away after scoring 2 runs in the 9th inning to give them a 13-11 win against UCSB.

After being swept by Hawai’i, the Gauchos finished their season with a strong overall record of 35-20.

Head men’s basketball coach, Joe Pasternack proved he was all in for the Gauchos’ program as he withdrew his name from the UC Berkeley head coach position pool and brought in some transfers.

After losing to Baylor University in the first round of March Madness, there were rumors of Pasternack potentially filling the vacancy of the head coach at Cal. When Pasternack was asked about the rumors, Pasternack responded with.

“Yeah, I love UC Santa Barbara, the community, and everybody else, and I’m going recruiting tonight.”

Two months later, Pasternack’s early recruiting paid off as the Gauchos successfully brought in three transfers, including one that was a former 5-star coming out of high school.

Freshman forward Yohan Traore was ranked No. 22 best prospect out of the 2022 class and committed to Auburn University. Traore was labeled as “a skilled, efficient and productive big man with a good natural frame,” according to 247 Sports. During his time at Auburn, he played in 25 games of the season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.

Traore was the most significant transfer the Gauchos received, as he was graded a 4-star transfer and ranked No. 73 overall prospect in the transfer portal. With the forward entering the portal 12 days after Auburn’s season ended, Traore received a lot of attention. The forward chose the Gauchos over teams like University of Alabama, University of Oklahoma, University of Michigan, Texas Christian University and University of Mississippi.

The second-best prospect received was 3-star sophomore forward Zach Clemence. Clemence was part of the University of Kansas’ 2022 NCAA National Championship season, where he played in 24 games

averaging 2.1 points per game.

After two seasons, Clemence played 44 games averaging 1.8 points per game while shooting 35% from the field.

Coming out of the portal, Clemence was ranked No. 189 overall prospect in the portal. Clemence was a former 4-star projected out to be a power five starter out of high school, so there’s no question that there is potential for the forward. The only question for the transfer is whether he will stay healthy, as he fought knee and foot injuries during last season.

The last transfer, freshman guard Ben Shtolzberg out of Creighton University. The versatile guard had a single-season stint at Creighton, participating in 17 games throughout the year. He achieved a personal best of 13 points in just 14 minutes of play against College of the Holy Cross, marking a solid start to his college basketball journey. He also made notable appearances in important Big East games.

Shtolzberg’s solid performance at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California attracted significant attention from college recruiters, ultimately leading him to choose Creighton over power five programs such as Northwestern University, Rutgers University and Virginia Tech. Hailing from Northridge, CA, he maintained an average of 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game during his senior season. As a transfer and high school recruit, Shtolzberg was graded a three-star both times, where his overall ranking was too low to qualify for the list.

As the season approaches in November, Pasternack looks to win the Big West title again and go further into March Madness after a first-round exit. The team faces high expectations as Big West’s Player of the Year, Ajay Mitchell, returns for his junior season and sharpshooter Cole Anderson will be returning. With these new transfers coming in, the team is starting to look dangerous with their arsenal.

UCSB fielders run off the field after the inning.

The men’s basketball bench cheers on their teammates in UCSB’s March Madness appearance.

ANIKA CHANG / DAILY NEXUS

MADDY FANGGIO / DAILY NEXUS

MADDY FANGGIO / DAILY NEXUS

Pasternack gets interviewed by a TNT sideline reporter.

Querida clase 2023,

A pocos días de su graduación, quería tomar un momento para aplaudir los años que pasaste en UCSB. Especialmente a nuestros graduados hispanohablantes de primera generación que están rompiendo los ciclos y abriendo el camino para otros. Gracias por no solo ser una inspiración para los pequeños de las próximas generaciones, sino también para los que están actualmente trabajando para algún día tener su licenciatura como tú. Bien o mal, este ha sido el lugar donde, aunque suena cursi, aprendieron cosas sobre sí mismos, donde tuvieron que vivir sin estar debajo del ojo vigilante de tus padres, pero aún así has sobrellevado de todo y demostrando tu fuerza y voluntad.

Desde lidiar con profesores estrictos hasta aguantar con los vecinos de tu dormitorio que no paraban de ser los más gritones a las tres de la mañana y en pleno martes para acabarla.

Así como dijo Taylor Swift “Haz las pulseras de amistad, toma el momento y saborealo. No tienes por qué tener miedo.” Camina en tu playa favorita (aunque asegurate de tener a la mano removedor de brea), canta y baila con tus personas favoritas, disfruta de las campanadas de Storke Tower y las locuras que viviste en DP

(lo que pasa en DP se queda en DP) y camina sobre ese podio representando tus raíces con mucho orgullo. Graduarse no es solo un momento triste, llena de despedidas y de recuerdos inolvidables pero también algo emocionante. Ahora que ya no tienes que estar al pie del cañón atendiendo clases, tareas frustrantes, exámenes estresantes y un sin fin de ensayos, disfruta tu tiempo libre…antes de entrar al “mundo real”. Sea cual sea tu camino, tengo mucha fe en que estarás bien, confío en tus habilidades y que eres una persona capaz de realizar sus sueños.

En estos días de celebración es imposible no pensar en las diferentes circunstancias que hacen de este día tan especial complicado. Para los graduados que caminarán sobre el podio con seres queridos al otro lado de la frontera, o sin la habilidad de acompañarlos físicamente, tengan por certeza que los estarán acompañando en sus corazones y que les están echando porras de lejos.

No te vayas con el corazón pesado, sino con la emoción de saber que estás por empezar la siguiente etapa de tu vida.

Estamos orgullosos de ti, usa tu toga y birrete con orgullo, que cada uno de ustedes se merece disfrutar de la culminación de este logro tan grande. Son unos chingones, ¡Felicidades!

Dicen que lo inevitable es solamente la muerte y los taxes, pero ten por seguro que si le preguntas a los primeros 5 estudiantes tras el campus escolar de UCSB te dirán que al dicho le falta El Estrés. En temporada del Mes de la Salud Mental y entrando a la temporada de exámenes culminantes, debemos priorizar nuestro bienestar. Muchas veces me encuentro hasta la M con mis tareas, ensayos, trabajo y más. Lo importante es tomarse un tiempo para sí mismos – tiempo para relajarse y disfrutar de tu tiempo en UCSB. Para algunos será la última vez que escuchen la frase “su examen parcial fue calificado” , para otros, solo el comienzo. De cualquier manera, el descanso es esencial para sobresalir. Aquí les tengo un guía para relajarse. Buen provecho.

Encuentra tu paz en el Centro de Health and Wellness en el primer piso del SRB. Ofrecen una variedad de servicios para calmar esos cuerpos y mentes ansiosas. Servicios como Meditación entre Pares, Estaciones de Rejuvenecimiento y Meditación Consciente son ofrecidos a lo largo del año escolar. No se necesita experiencia ni ciertas creencias para participar en el programa. Durante estos programas, los estudiantes se relajan con minimasajes, meditación guiada y actividades conscientes. ¡Estos programas están disponibles todas las semanas y sirven a todos los estudiantes!

Las sillas de huevo en la biblioteca

Un lugar cómodo para tomar una siesta o simplemente una oportunidad para descansar. Tómate un descanso de estudiar en estos maravillosos huevitos mientras te inclinas y te envuelven como un Tenaya Wrap.

Lawngoon

El pasto conjunto a la laguna infame de UCSB, un lugar para

relajarse bajo el sol. Justo enfrente del Club y hogar de muchos árboles, lo que cariñosamente llamo Lawngoon, tiene césped, sombra y una hermosa vista de las aguas misteriosas que rodean la UCen. No hay mejor lugar para llevar un diario o descansar ya sea en el césped o en el banco con vistas al paisaje.

El sofá en el tercer piso del HSSB

Uno de los secretos mejor guardados de UCSB, el tercer piso de HSSB alberga una pequeña sala de estar con cómodos sofás y sillones. Esta área tranquila es un gran espacio para reposar aunque sea de paso. Los pasillos poco activos hacen también de escenario perfecto para su “coming of age moment”.

Glass Art Box

El orgullo y la alegría del Departamento de Arte, el Art Box es un gran puesto para admirar el talento directamente de los estudiantes. Encuentra la belleza

y rodéate con la dedicación de los demás y a la vez aléjate de la monotonía de la vida cotidiana por un rato. Complace tus sentidos con exhibiciones interactivas y presentaciones. Siempre se puede obtener más información sobre los eventos específicos albergados por el Departamento de Arte en el sitio web del Museo AD&A.

Playa Manzanita

Tranquilidad y vistas al mar esperan tu llegada. En los faroles al lado de Manzanita Village puedes reflexionar sobre tus primeros años en UCSB y posiblemente crear nuevas memorias. Con senderos que te guiarán hacia la playa, puedes disfrutar del paisaje y alejarte del estrés inducido por Chem 1A. Sal a correr, camina o simplemente siéntate junto al mar y practica un poco de meditación.

El Laberinto El rompecabezas de la naturaleza ayuda a calmar el estrés de los exámenes y plazos incesantes. Realizado en el

2011, el laberinto es un lugar de tranquilidad el cual promueve meditación y el apreció de la naturaleza a tus alrededores. Contempla el paisaje de Santa Bárbara y disfruta de la brisa del océano mientras te deshaces del plazo para aprobación/no aprobación.

Tortuguitas bajo Storke

De hecho miré a alguien sacar las tortugas de la agua pero estoy casi segura de que no lo debes hacer.

De todas formas, justo a lado de la Torre Storke existe la piscinita de la Plaza Storke.

Lleno de algas, pero hogar de algunos de los peces más extraños, un saludo especial para Koiliosis y las tortugas más lindas. Encuentra consuelo después de tu parcial calificado en los alegres glug glugs de los peces. La zona de asientos ofrece un amplio espacio para la reflexión, así como para la fugaz idea de saltar.

Si somos honestos, no aprendí sobre la salud mental y su importancia hasta que llegue a la universidad. Pasé la mayoría de mi vida escuchando lo trabajador que somos los latinos, del rigor latino – de romper las estereotípicas que nos sombrean.

En mi familia y posiblemente la tuya también, el orgullo es sobresaliente y la mentalidad “¡sí se puede!” nos rodea a cada instante.

Por si, siempre era corta de miras – en mi mente no tuve otra opción más que sobresalir y luchar por mis metas. No le puse mucha atención a mi salud mental o el efecto que tenía sobre mi bienestar y de veras que no le miraba el punto. Lo único que me importó fue salirme de las expectativas negativas por ser latina.

Más de la mitad de jóvenes hispanos entre 18 y 25 años de edad con enfermedades mentales graves no tienen acceso a tratamiento.

Solamente el 35.1 % de los adultos hispanos con enfermedades mentales reciben tratamiento cada año en comparación con el promedio de EE. UU. del 46.2 %.

Hay muchas razones por la cual estas estadísticas parecen

así. Primeramente, puede haber una barrera lingüística, ya que el promedio de los recursos para la

salud mental aparece solamente en inglés. Aún más difícil, es poder comunicar lo que estás experimentando con alguien que te pueda entender.

Aunque 40% de Californianos de identifican como hispano o latinx, solo el 9% de los psicólogos clínicos, el 21% de los terapeutas matrimoniales y familiares y el 27% de los especialistas en salud mental se identifican como latinx. Hay muchas diferencias lingüísticas en la manera que expresamos nuestras experiencias. El término “nervios” se usa libremente y muchas veces y saber y entender lo que

CORTESÌADECREATIVECOMMONS

realmente está sucediendo es lo que se interpone entre un diagnóstico adecuado.

Poder recibir ayuda de alguien que en verdad te entienda, es esencial para poder mejorarse a sí mismo.

Otra lucha que limita el acceso a apoyo o

tratamiento para la salud mental es el costo. El 17.0 % de los

hispanos/ latinxs

a seguro de salud adecuado lo que hace que sea aún más difícil buscar ayuda.

Además de enfrentarse a un grupo de proveedores ya

servicios para mejorar la calidad de vida.

en los EE. UU. viven en la pobreza (en comparación con el 8.2 % de los blancos no hispanos) e individuos quienes viven en la pobreza tienen un mayor riesgo de enfermedades mentales. Es un ciclo vicioso y difícil de sobrepasar ya que los que sufren de enfermedades mentales también sufren de la pobreza. Muchos latinos no tienen acceso

limitado debido a las barreras del idioma, las personas que se identifican como hispanas/latinas tienen aún menos opciones cuando no tienen seguro.

Cuando tienen enfrente las opciones de usar su dinero para pagar la renta o para hablar con alguien para solucionar un problema de salud mental, la pregunta se responde sola.

Para colmo de males, nuestra cultura empeora las oportunidades para recibir ayuda. Dichos como, “la ropa sucia se lava en casa” o “ponte las pilas”, solo añadan sal a la herida. El estigma tras la salud mental inhibe la oportunidad para adherir

Pedir ayuda es muy difícil, especialmente cuando hacerlo te etiquetará como “loco”. Nuestra cultura cree ampliamente que la enfermedad mental no que es solo falta de ganas. Este estigma también se traslada a recibir medicamentos. Incontables veces he escuchado, “Para que estas tomando eso, no lo ocupas, nomas echale ganas”, pero el problema no es y nunca era falta de ganas, sino eventos incesantes de la vida que golpean implacablemente una y otra vez. No todo se soluciona con ánimo y no se necesita hacer solo. Algunas veces se ocupa de más y no es algo de lo que se debería de Muchas veces he pensado que para tener éxito, se tiene que sufrir pero no necesita ser así. Los latinos tienen en mente que para evitar ser un estereotipo, se tiene que dedicar la vida entera a sobresalir expectativas. No tenemos que comprobarle No tenemos que decir o presumir lo tanto que sufrimos sin ayuda. Nos merecemos un descanso. Nos merecemos cuidarnos a nosotros mismos. Sí, se puede y siempre se ha

Koiliosis nada como si nada.

MARI VLLALPANDO - ORTEGA / EL NEXO DIARIO

CORTESÌA DE CREATIVE COMMONS

It’s Satire, Stupid.

Far From Euphoric: Stay as far away from Bella Hadid’s beverages as possible

Stephanie Gerson Silly Little Beverage Enthusiast

No good things can come out of Erewhon Market, a Los Angeles-based specialty grocery store chain known for its $30 bottled water, bread made with so few ingredients it might as well be a figment of your imagination and other celeb-approved bullshit wellness products. Erewhon Market also happens to sell Kin Euphorics, supermodel Bella Hadid’s line of “Functional Beverages for Modern Rituals,” or whatever that cluster of words even means.

On my drives back from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, I sometimes crave a silly little beverage to get me through.

I’m referring to silly little ‘wellness’ drinks: kombuchas, probiotic sodas and other fun and fizzy drinks that claim to have health benefits, but in reality, I could care less about what they do; I just feel a pep in my step whenever I consume one. Not a day goes by where I can’t spend $3-5 on a silly little drink … It’s actually becoming a bad habit.

Kin Euphorics has always intrigued me. Why did Bella Hadid feel the need to venture into making wellness products when she’s so busy walking in runway shows and serving cunt 24/7?

With the option to buy individual cans of Kin, I thought, “Why the hell not,” and picked up a can of Kin Lightwave for a mere $30,000. The can sports a hazy exterior of blue and purple hues, reminiscent of a style of photography called aura photography, imagined to translate a person’s energy into color. I can assure you that everyone shopping at Erewhon has had their aura captured on camera and has taken their

reading wayyyy too seriously. Opening the can hit me with a strong whiff of the fruity, spicy, vanilla-y concoction. But with supposed good-foryou ingredients, like Reishi Mushroom and L-theanine, I was willing to suffer the off-putting taste for a drink that’s supposed to turn me into a wellness god and help me sleep.

Within a few sips, I noticed the consciousness leaving my body and my buccal fat being sucked out of my face. I went to graze my cheekbones but my razor-sharp jawline sliced

my finger open. I took one look in the mirror before passing out in bed and I could barely even recognize myself because of how snatched I looked. My waist was literally gone! Was I transforming into Bella Hadid?

After a series of truly unsettling dreams, I jolted awake at 5 a.m. I was sweating and disoriented. To my dismay, my hollowed out cheekbones had returned to chub and I appeared to return to my previous size. For Kin being an alcohol alternative, I surprisingly woke up with

a hangover-esque headache, salivating at the thought of gobbling up Rockfire’s mediocre french fries. Perhaps combining Kin Lightwave with my sleeping medication and a 10mg edible messed up the desired effects of the beverage, but I thought the more sleep aids, the merrier? Don’t act like you don’t also have your random combination of medicated shit to help you sleep too.

Due to the traumatizing and momentary disappearance of my waist, I was left groggy and disoriented in the aftermath of Kin Lightwave. I was given a glimpse into her fabulous life, but at what cost? Feeling like a bubonic plague patient? Losing every ounce of fat in my face? I decided that Ms. Hadid’s life simply wasn’t suited for plebes like me. Rating: Zero Botox syringes out of five.

Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to rate this a 0/5 because literally what the fuck is in this, Bella?

DAILY NEXUS ART & COMICS

Within a few sips, I noticed the consciousness leaving my body and my buccal fat being sucked out of my face.

Stephanie Gerson

FAITH TALAMANTEZ / DAILY NEXUS

FAITH TALAMANTEZ / DAILY NEXUS

ISABELLA CARRIGAN / DAILY NEXUS

FAITH TALAMANTEZ / DAILY NEXUS

ON THE MENU

because it made me laugh. I brought it back to my dorm and googled “Nexustentialism

UCSB.”

I love when life’s biggest developments hinge on the smallest of coincidences. In 2019, somewhere, somehow, I

found a sticker with an alien skateboarding over the word “Nexustentialism.” It was the spring quarter of my freshman year and one of my darker times at UCSB; I was wandering listlessly around

questions of the future, I was unpassionate, uninspired and unwell, self-medicating my then undiagnosed depression by steeping my brain in ungodly amounts of Phoebe Bridgers. I picked up the sticker simply

Thus began my first Nexus experience, as a writer with Nexustentialism (now The Daily Stench). It was terrifying. I was in awe of (and a little bit in love with) Emma and Max, the editors at the time. They’re some of the kindest, funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. There is nothing like telling a joke in a room full of funny people, some of whom you admire, and having it HIT. An incomparable high! There’s also nothing like telling a joke in a room full of people you want desperately to impress and having it flop. Mortifying! Both incredibly important though. Nexustentialism helped me grow a lot as a person and as a writer. It made me bolder and funnier and most importantly, it gave me direction! I felt a strong sense of community with the other Stench writers, something I’d been missing at UCSB. I loved to write, I loved these people and I loved the newspaper; it felt like home.

A few months later, I moved into an apartment of my own, which meant a kitchen of my own, and started to explore my passion for food. Food, the ritual of mealtime, and the absolute pleasure in eating something delicious are constant and important over the entirety of my life. Get a glass of wine and a good meal in me and I’ll start waxing poetic about how this! right! here! is the meaning of life. Food and community! Two inseparable threads throughout my 23 years. My mom cooked nearly every night, and “family dinner” was tradition. In high school, my friends and I cooked together all the time (we referred to ourselves as the “chef boiz”), emulating our favorite chefs (mainly just Roy Choi) and putting on massive feasts for each other. Food has always meant love, laughter, pleasure and absolute joy to me.

So, when I discovered On The Menu, I jumped at the chance to combine my passions for writing and food. Shortly after publishing my first couple articles, I applied and (miraculously) was hired

as assistant editor! Joining the Daily Nexus Editorial Staff was a dream of mine (mainly because I wanted to be like Emma and Max), and it felt right to do so as the food section editor. The rest, I suppose, is history? Something like that. The past three years I’ve spent on Editorial Staff have been truly wonderful; some of my favorite moments at UCSB happened in our musty, crusty, dusty office. Walking into that room always felt like coming home, in a way; to spend hours surrounded by people I love, joking around, laughing and creating something beautiful is a blessing I do not take for granted! The Nexus is such a special environment, and I thank freshman Chace for stealing that Stench sticker way back in 2019.

It’s getting misty in here! I want to say thank you to Emma Demorest, Max Myszkowski, Winnie Lam, Michelle Lee, Stephanie Gerson, Atmika Iyer, Sierra Vakili and all of my wonderful writers for making my time at the Nexus so fulfilling. It wouldn’t have been the same without y’all <3.

There’s a beauty about food and writing about food that feels quietly understated. It’s something so simple, so innocuous, so everyday — and I think that’s what’s part of the appeal to me. It offers reprieve from weightier subjects, to get to revel in something so uncomplicated and communityoriented. Writing for On the Menu has been a joy and an aspect of my college experience that I will miss greatly. I think a large part of this is because it has been such an extension of so many other of my experiences here — my friends and I had a delightful “Friendsgiving” together, and I got to commemorate the multitude of experiences we lived through that night in the

form of an article. The clink of our glasses, the smell of roasted garlic, the laughs we shared in between bites can be reduced down into a collection of recipes, shared with the world now, made ready for someone else to experience with different friends in a different room with different silverware. For all its variability, through cultures and techniques, recipe substitutions and rookie chef mistakes — the defining constant in cooking is this simple kind of love. Sharing a meal together is, to me, a celebration of friendships, family, culture and history. And we get to do it every day! This is what I’ve loved so much about writing for On the Menu and getting the privilege of reading all of the other published articles as well. For something so simple, food and people’s

experiences with it are highly unique. There is so much to learn about food and so much to share as well; On the Menu provides a student-based medium for doing that. On the Menu helped me pick a restaurant to go to when my mom visited town (we went to The Blue Owl, by the way, it was delicious); it also taught me what fonio is (the answer: a West African grain with a pleasant, fluffy texture that offers a sustainable alternative to conventional grain farming). Other writers at On the Menu shared the best vegan cheeses at the I.V. Food Co-op, an incredible recipe for fried green tomatoes and a surprisingly emotional essay about ratatouille. Each one of these articles has moved and impacted me, from the more benign decision of buying vegan cheese to reflecting on the

value of friendship; each story, experience and flavor shared has mattered. For me personally, On the Menu has been an invaluable outlet for everything from sharing my favorite cookie recipe to addressing the relationship between our food system and climate change to honoring and remembering my father who has passed on. Food is whatever you want it to be; that’s what makes it so special. It’s simple, fun and silly. It’s quick and easy or it’s a labor of love. It’s the glue between family and culture. It’s what keeps us alive, both as sustenance for the body and the spirit.

I guess that’s sort of the kicker then. I keep referring to food as simple, and I really think that it is or that it should be. Yet at the same time, it’s a subject that is so nuanced and complicated.

As an environmental studies major, I’ve primarily focused my studies and research on food systems and regenerative agriculture. This is a field of study that has brought me both great despair and unparalleled hope. The way conventional agriculture is practiced both in the U.S. and globally is reckless and harmful to our ecosystems, watersheds, climate and ourselves. Comparably harmful is the way food production and distribution are handled once crops are grown: there are countless disparities in access to healthy and fresh food. Cultural foods are often made inaccessible or shamed or ignored in the larger media. In my first year as an environmental studies major, I was quite disillusioned with the practice of agriculture, which, as I had learned it, pretty much

exclusively caused harm to our planet. However, regenerative farming actually has an untapped potential to do great things, from restoring topsoil to sequestering carbon to vastly improving the health and nutrition of those who participate in our food system. I see food not just as a pedestrian, everyday activity but as a point of origin for a better future. Food is an opportunity to heal our planet and ecosystems. It’s an invaluable nexus of family, culture and identity. It’s a way to take agency over our health and well-being. It’s my favorite way to express my love for someone. In my time writing for On the Menu, I’ve sincerely valued the opportunity to share my recipes and words and feel honored and humbled to have read about so many incredible meals and stories. I will miss it dearly.

To me, summer tastes like a cold, spicy margarita on a sunny day. With summer — and graduation — just around the corner, this recipe is the perfect way to celebrate, whether it be passing that super gnarly class or, if you’re a senior like me, toasting with your roommates as the sun goes down on your final few nights of college.

As students with limited time and money, it may be tempting to buy canned cocktails or a premade mix, but I encourage you to take the time to prepare and assemble these delicious cocktails as you reflect on the end of the school year and all of your accomplishments. The ingredients are pretty simple and, not to mention, the lack of artificial sugars is sure to lessen your hangover.

Luckily for me, my dad is a professional chef who can pull any recipe for any food or drink I might want right out of his pocket. So instead of asking

Google, I ask my dad and I can count that whatever the result is, it will be delicious.

Here’s my dad’s spicy margarita recipe, with a few adjustments to make it a little bit more college apartment friendly.

Yield: 1 drink

Time: 7-10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces tequila (I usually prefer blanco or reposado but añejo works too!)

• 1 ounce triple sec

• 1 ounce lime juice (juice of about 1 lime)

• 1 ounce orange juice

• 2 slices of jalepeño chiles (my dad uses serrano chiles for an extra kick)

• 1 lime slice to line the glass and garnish

• Tajín for the rim of your glass (or red solo cup)

• 10-12 ice cubes

Directions: 1. Fill a cocktail shaker with half of the ice.

2. Get your glass or red solo cup ready by taking a lime wedge and wiping it around the rim. Cover the rim in Tajín. Then, fill your glass with the rest of the ice.

3. Measure out tequila, triple sec, lime juice and orange juice, and add to your shaker.

4. Slice your lime and chile of choice.

5. Add chile slices to the shaker.

6. Shake for 1-2 minutes.

7. Strain the contents from the shaker into your glass and enjoy!

The great thing about this drink is how customizable it can be. If you like a little less spice, use jalepeños and cover the rim in salt instead of Tajín. If you like more spice, you can leave the chile slices in your cup! And if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, these drinks can taste just as good by giving the ingredients a good stir in a cup of ice.

My dad stands by the belief that food and drink bring people together and the better the food, the better

time everyone has. As for this particular drink, I’ll be sharing it with my family and friends alongside a homemade taco

bar to celebrate graduation. Happy almost summertime, Gauchos. And to the class of 2023, happy graduation!

MADDY FANGIO DAILY NEXUS

KATYA KISELEVA / DAILY NEXUS

Big Hungry

Already in the recording studio their first year playing together, the all-freshman band Big Hungry has made their way to the coveted 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. spot at Isla Vista band parties.

The band’s formation was put in the works when history and sociology double major Stiles White (lead guitar) and music studies major Nolan Guss (vocals) met on the Isla Vista walking tour — a UCSB orientation staple — this past summer. Within the first week of school (and with a little help from a water polo party) White and Guss met environmental studies major Moe Stoked (rhythm guitar), applied math major Avery Lindsey (bass), and psychology & brain sciences major Curran Hoxie (drums) and Big Hungry was jamming together in Santa Cruz Hall’s theater room. Their I.V. debut, complemented by the rain and loyal fans, was made in December 2022.

“Nothin’ beats the I.V. music scene” says the band.

The band plays almost everything under the rock umbrella and has started to move toward playing solely originals, noted by Guss’ “BIG. HUNGRY. ORGINAL” announcement. However, the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil,” Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” and The Pixies’ “Hey” always work their way into the set.

Big Hungry seems to have found the perfect way into the band scene, establishing a name for themselves — “Big Hungry” being splattered across Sounds of IV only six months into their college musical career. They’ve also made their way out of the I.V. bubble with a couple downtown Santa Barbara shows in their rear view.

Be on the lookout for upcoming releases and follow @bighungryband on Instagram for show announcements and highlights.

Lot 22

If you’ve walked across campus, chances are you’ve heard the band Lot 22 practicing in UC Santa Barbara’s iconic parking garage. With their Instagram bio reading “The soundtrack of your walk to class,” the band has garnered campus-wide awareness and appreciation since its inception.

The band began when guitarist Luc Pardehpoosh invited a crew of Isla Vista musicians to a jam session. The final touch was when Ema Nastic heard them playing on top of the parking garage and came up to watch. When Nastic mentioned that she sang, the band invited her to jam waith them. Afterwards, she officially joined Lot 22 as lead singer.

Lot 22 consists of secondyear psychology & brain sciences major Nastic (vocals), fourth-year data science major Pardehpoosh (lead guitar), third-year physics major Noah Baum (rhythm guitar), fourthyear geographic information sciences major Alexander Castro (bass), fourth-year communication and percussion performance double major Nina Lim (drums), fourth-year biochemistry major Ben KrohnHansen (keyboard), physics major Henry Jurney (trumpet), fourth-year economics major

ARTSWEEK

Harrison Arakawa (trombone), second-year computer science major Danny Rose (saxophone) and fourth-year electrical engineering Philippe Rerolle (saxophone).

Their impact on the I.V. band scene is massive as well. Every Lot 22 show is packed with fans and music lovers who gather to listen to genre-spanning

setlists, including rock, pop, and funk covers.

Despite the group performing their last show in May 2023, Lot 22’s legacy will live on as one of the most universally loved and fun spirited bands in Isla Vista.

“Personally, it’s my last quarter here and whenever I have a show I enjoy every minute of it … It’s been one of my favorite parts of being in college,” Lim

reflects.

Follow @lot.22.band on Instagram for more band content.

The Framers

“Your moms favorite indie rock band,” as advertised in their Instagram bio, The Framers have brought indie rock covers and originals to Isla Vista — their newest single being “Angel” — and have been playing since 2019.

UCSB film alumnus

Oliver Chavez (lead guitar), anthropology and technology management alumnus Franky Sansone (rhythm guitar), secondyear psychology major Allison Corwin (bass), mechanical engineering graduate student Jake Morenc (drums) and Marymount Manhattan College music alumnus Jesse Prior (lead vocals) met through Reddit and Facebook group

UCSB Free/For Sale, and from there, even with varied musical backgrounds, started the Framers. With the musicians coming in having different levels of experience with their respective instruments, they seem to balance each other out quite nicely.

On Spotify, the band describes themselves as “... an

alternative rock indie group based in Santa Barbara! A bunch of musicians who met in the Isla Vista music scene while we attended UCSB and we provide emotional nostalgic tunes to our listeners around the world! We hope to see you at a show very soon!”

The group’s favorite I.V. bands include Closeout, Careless Cub and Tastegood, and through this mutual appreciation they found themselves playing covers by bands like The Strokes, Beach Bunny and Kate Nash. Now with eight releases of their own, The Framers perfectly mix cover songs that everyone can sing along to with their own funky indie rock originals. “We’ve all taught each other so much and built up so much chemistry

religious studies major Nico Johnson (drums) and geography alumnus Gavin Mentz (drums).

Being one of the only UCSB tribute bands, Dead Set, founded by Memenas, has deadheads and ‘70s music fans flocking to their shows, speckling Del Playa Drive with tie-dyed tees and long, colorful skirts. The crowd is there for the music (especially the long jams characteristic of the Grateful Dead) and always fills small, fenced yards, sometimes spilling out into the

street.

Despite being a cover band of the Grateful Dead and spanning across so many different genres of music, Dead Set is able to put their own musical styles into each song, reflecting who they are as musicians, making the shows so special. Every song and show is different.

Dead Set is also the only band in I.V. to use two drummers, paying homage to the Grateful Dead’s two drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann.

“Double drum jams feed the soul,” Johnson said. Follow

on Instagram for band highlights.

“There’s nothing like a concert full of people, ears full of music and a belly full of Taco Bell,” Nos Algos guitarist Jake Hahn described his time performing with the band. That statement perfectly captures the eccentric vibe of Nos Algos. Nos Algos consists of fourth-year political science major and religious studies minor Ayden Danovaro (vocals), third-year mechanical engineering major Hahn (guitar, vocals), third-year psychology & brain sciences major Nico Corrales (guitar), third-year biopsychology major Jared Wychoff (bass, vocals), and third-year political science major Ben Fogel (drums). Third-year biopsychology major Sofia Borelli occasionally fills in for Danovaro for lead vocals. The band would like to thank her for her help.

The name “Nos Algos” is derived from the latin roots of ‘nostalgia,’ with Nostos meaning ‘return home’ and algos meaning ‘pain.’

Follow @theframers on Instagram for more information.

Dead Set

A veteran band in the Daily Nexus’ “Best Of” edition, Dead Set brings the uniquely Americana sound of the Grateful Dead to backyards across Isla Vista and Santa Barbara. Since their debut show in 2021, the band has lost and gained members. The Spring Quarter 2023 musicians include third-year applied math and physical geography major Cassidy Fragakis (vocals, guitar) fourth-year environmental studies major Justin Memenas (vocals, guitar), third-year statistics and data science major Jordan Russo (vocals, guitar, keyboard), second-year film major Albert Dicesare (vocals, keyboard, harmonica), fourthyear mechanical engineering major Aidan Kockler (bass),

“I think it has a double meaning because we tend to play older songs. There is a hint of nostalgia in what we play, but we also play because it is an artistic extension of our inner feelings.” Hahn said.

The band started out in August 2022, practicing in garages and parking lots and mixing their diverse influences to create a signature sound. Their rise to popularity is astounding. Characterized by their high energy performances and chaotic online presence, Nos Algos already has a dedicated fan base and has become an Isla Vista staple. Their favorite songs to perform are “Seeds” by Sublime, “Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie, “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit, and any original riffs the band comes up with.

Nos Algos has begun branching out to different live settings and will be writing and recording original music soon. Follow @nosalgos on Instagram to keep up with the Algos.

The Framers bring their unique energy to Thriftopia 2023.

Dead Set filling the mountain air with Grateful Dead covers.

Big Hungry sporting suits for another Del Playa set.

COURTESY OF @SHOTBYSEANBOY

COURTESY OF KAELEN MCCRACKEN

COURTESY OF JOHNATHAN DEMOREST

JULIE BROCH / DAILY NEXUS

Lot 22 atop Lot 22 with the band dog.

COURTESY OF LOT 22

SCIENCE & TECH RESEARCH IN REVIEW

LEVELS OF LOVE

Samarah Paulino Science Writer

Much research has been done on the premise of love. However, little has been explored regarding how cultural influences may affect an individual’s love experiences. A study by Piotr Sorokowski from the University of Wroclaw, Poland, along with fellow researcher Daniel Conroy-Beam, a psychological & brain sciences professor from UC Santa Barbara, attempts to fill in this gray area by looking at intimacy, passion and commitment patterns across countries in relation to varying modernization indexes. Surveys across 45 different countries found positive correlations between modernization and levels of how intimate, passionate and committed couples were — what the authors described as “love levels.” Countries with higher levels of modernization had higher love levels compared to countries with more traditional cultures. However, a drop was noticed for countries with the highest levels of modernization, possibly describing a point in development at which the effects of love may become or seem less beneficial. A correlation was also noticed with regard to collectivism, the nature of putting one’s society before themselves: the researchers found that countries with higher levels of collectivism also produced higher levels of intimacy and commitment. This suggests the idea that individuals with collectivist values more highly prioritize connectivity and relational bonds within romantic relationships. Although no definite conclusion can be drawn, this study proposes the idea that differences in cultures can affect one’s attitude towards love and how modernization and collectivism may be significant factors.

CORAL CARE

Saanvi Tiwary Science Writer

Coral reef resilience is difficult to study due to coral’s extensive life span and long recovery rate. However, UCSB doctoral candidate Kai Kopecky has developed a way to investigate the dynamics of reefs following disturbance events. Coral bleaching, triggered by high temperatures, results in the expulsion of symbiotic colorful algae and leaves the coral vulnerable, while tropical storms often cause the complete removal of coral structures from the reef. The researchers observed a significant bleaching event in the long-studied coral reef ecosystem of Mo’orea in French Polynesia, where past studies have revealed that the reef alternates between coral and macroalgae — like seaweed — dominance. Kopecky created a mathematical model to quantify the effects of reef disturbances that incorporated variables such as live and dead coral, exposed and protected algae and empty areas with potential for colonization by either coral or macroalgae. The model also considered factors like coral and algae growth rates, coral mortality and erosion rates and algae overgrowth rate. Kopecky’s study demonstrated that these events, like bleaching and tropical storms, and specifically the coral skeletons which remain — termed “material legacies” — can in fact hinder coral recovery. The skeletons provide protection for algae against herbivores, which can lead to the ecosystem becoming algae-dominant and has the potential to affect reef resilience and cause more coral to die. Future studies may provide insight into the broader implications of disturbances and their lasting effects on various ecological systems.

SOMATIC STRESSORS

Kaitlin Lee Science Writer

FOOD FOOTPRINTS

Roshan Mishra Science Writer

Mainstream media attention regarding climate change usually focuses on the pollution by the fossil fuel industry, explaining how, among other things, they break down the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. However, an often overlooked aspect of environmental change is how food production for certain countries has played a part in this. Whether it be through the overfishing of marine habitats or land-based factory farming, political and social efforts to remedy the rampant effects of climate change have usually turned a blind eye to the immense effects of food production. More alarmingly, just five nations have been responsible for over half of the cumulative global food footprint, a discovery made by UCSB’s very own National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine biology. It’s likely that less action and attention have been granted to this aspect of climate change because of how vital food production is to humanity’s survival on this planet. Nevertheless, even if sudden changes in our food production might now seem to be disruptive to our short-term lifestyles, solutions in the form of sustainable agriculture and overall food production are crucial to our long-term survival on this planet.

ANTIBIOTIC ADVANCES

Maya Rink Science Writer

LITTLE LASERS

SIMONEMANSELL/DAILYNEXUS

Latine youth are the fastest growing ethnic group, yet mental health among this community has been little studied. UCSB researchers from the Department of Clinical, Counseling & School sychology, including Alissa Der Sarkissian, Jill Sharkey and Alison Cerezo, investigated mental health in Latine youth and the physical symptoms, termed “somatic complaints,” that mental illness causes. Somatic complaints are physical symptoms of mental illness such as stomach aches and headaches. An individual might bring excessive attention to these sensations, worsening their symptoms and mental health in the process. The study used hierarchical linear regressions to model somatic complaints and the environmental stressors that contribute to them. The researchers found the most affected groups to be females and third-generation immigrants. It also showed that youth were less likely to have somatic complaints if a relationship with a supportive adult was established. The study emphasized the importance of considering factors and demographics such as mental health stigma, acculturation, immigration status and gender when studying mental health.

“If all groundwater is lost from over-exploited regions, India could lose up to 20% of winter cropped area”

- Meha Jain

On Jan. 23 at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren Hall, Meha Jain, an assistant professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, presented her research in groundwater depletion and its connection to the ongoing climate crisis. Jain, whose work specifically focuses on India’s agricultural practices and production, has examined agricultural decisions made across India using remote sensing, geospatial analyses and census datasets. This methodology led to finding a conclusive relationship between climate change, groundwater depletion and agricultural productivity. Exploring the impacts of groundwater depletion on agricultural output, possible adaptive strategies to alleviate stress on groundwater resources and the relation to groundwater, Jain’s overarching message is that groundwater depletion is quickly becoming a critical issue as temperatures continue to rise: the stakes can be observed from India’s current crop yield, and based on Jain’s research, canal irrigation is only a temporary solution for a global issue.

ANTÓNIO DAMÁSIO

- António Damásio

On April 17, leading neuroscientist and University of Southern California professor António Damásio spoke to a crowd of UC Santa Barbara students and staff as part of UCSB’s Center for Portuguese Studies’s speaker series “Celebrating the Carnation Revolution: A Conference in Honor of Eduardo Lourenço.” The topic of the talk was consciousness — more specifically, the physical and psychological origins of consciousness and why Damásio believes our feelings should get more credit. He asserts that feeling, much more so than reason or logic, is the true origin of consciousness. “Feelings are the ambassadors of the state of life in your organism,” Damásio said. According to him, consciousness is also what subsequently allows us to effectively and coherently express our individual experiences to our peers. He argues that without feeling and consciousness, communication, specifically our use of language and literature, is meaningless. Indeed, our ability to experience feelings and emotions, process them and then turn them into decisive thoughts and actions is one of the defining characteristics of our species.

Olivia Gil de Bernabe Science Writer

Lasers with linewidth frequencies below 10 MHz (10,000,000 cycles/second) are critical to many scientific fields, from metrology, the study of measurement, to quantum physics and the manipulation of fundamental matter. In October 2022, UC Santa Barbara researchers from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering published a paper demonstrating the viability of a compact integrated laser system they developed with researchers from other institutions. The new lasers, which are narrowlinewidth and frequency-stable, outperform traditional fiber lasers, whose costly materials, bulk, and inadequate noise reduction render them limited in application. Key to the new laser system are a vacuum-gap cavity and microfabricated mirrors that hold the lasers together, allowing for “extraordinarily low” noise. These new lasers meets the size, integration and performance demands of exciting advances in high-precision GPS-free positioning and commercial 5G communications.

2022,

CYNTHIA KENYON URCA 2023

- Cynthia Kenyon

Cynthia Kenyon, vice president of aging research at Calico Life Sciences and director of the Larry L. Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging at the University of California, San Francisco, lectured at Corwin Pavilion this past quarter as part of the “Aging in America’” series, hosted by the College of Letters & Science at UCSB. Her research focus on evolutionary and molecular processes contributing to longevity began with the observation that chromosomes have an impact on the spatial organization of body development of C. elegans. She introduced the concept of regulatory genes after explaining her findings that inserting regulatory genes from C. elegans, a type of nematode, into D. melanogaster — commonly known as the fruit fly — resulted in various physical abnormalities. In her lecture, Kenyon highlighted the plasticity of aging and evolution’s role in shaping characteristics and average lifespans. Kenyon discovered that a set of mutated worms in one experiment that had a less efficient Daf-2 gene, a precursor to the hormone receptor analogous to insulin in humans, appeared physically younger compared to their normal counterparts. Kenyon found that worms had hidden life extension potential triggered by a single base pair mutation. The presentation also touched on heterochronic genes, DNA variations affecting size and longevity and protein aggregation and aging in humans. The finding that age-related diseases in worms, flies and mice are ameliorated due to this mutation opens up the possibility for health longevity in humans.

From May 8-12, undergraduate students shared research and creative projects with the public at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Week. The event included activities such as poster colloquiums, conference panels and the “Slam,” wherein participants competed for cash prizes with micro-presentations on their research. A few research projects stood out, such as first-year biology and English double major Kathleen Zhang’s. Zhang and her lab advisors study a phenomenon known as “trogocytosis,” the nibbling of pathogenic cells by our immune system’s macrophage cells. They examined whether our immune responses could be manipulated to make trogocytosis more lethal to cancer cells in particular, carrying significant implications for improved cancer treatments. Second-year biology major Riya Nilkant’s research also caught our eye. Along with principal investigators Kenneth Kosik and Soojin Yi of the Kosik Lab, she’s studying the newly discovered PSD-95 protein, a scaffolding protein in our neuronal synapses. Aside from being the first to quantify the organization of atoms in the binding site of the PSD-95 protein, the researchers are investigating how the protein works by inserting fluorescently tagged versions of it into neural cells. The study may also lead to a better understanding of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and autism. Last but certainly not least, fourth-year ecology & evolution major Kathryn Koo studies the pathogenic fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) to quantify its spread and deadly effects on amphibian species. Koo and her colleagues at the Cherie Briggs Lab ran experiments to determine how Bd can be detected using environmental DNA samples (eDNA) and whether various elements of eDNA storage and degradation affect its detection in soil samples.

“Feelings are the ambassadors of the state of life in your organism”

“The hope is that if we can increase youthfulness, we can postpone age-related diseases”

Katharine Chi Science Writer

Emma Holm-Olsen Science Editor

Meenakshi Manoj Asst. Science Editor

Emma Holm-Olsen Science Editor MEHA JAIN

OPINION

Summer Horoscopes (sponsored by CoStar (not really) (don’t sue us))

ARIES

MARCH 21 - APRIL 19

STORIES FROM STORKE: A word From Some of Our Seniors

Emily Kocis Outgoing Managing Editor

Despite how short it felt, these past four years are a lot to look back on. In an effort to hold onto my wavering sanity (and refusal to cry like a baby about it all) and in an ode to my time as Opinion Editor at the Nexus, here are my

Daniela Gomez Outgoing Production Editor

As an inherent catastrophizer, I came to college with the idea that everything I wanted would somehow be unachievable.

I quickly realized that having such little faith in yourself and your potential is remarkably more harmful than good.

Sierra Vakili Outgoing Stench Editor

My first Stench article was published online before I had ever stepped foot on UCSB’s campus. I knew nothing about campus life or culture — obvious in hindsight, if you read the article — but the editor at the time took a chance on

very last set of horoscopes. I present: “The Signs as Emily’s Best and Worst UCSB Memories (You Guess Which is Which).” Starting things off strong, Aries has got to be the time my housemate’s dog escaped our apartment and was found 20 minutes later harassing another dog on a walk. Taurus is when a guy with no shoes on sat

directly in front of me in section. Gemini is getting spontaneous tattoos after Nexus training. Cancer is friends bringing me birthday flowers to fill our empty wine bottles with. Leo is live music every weekend. Virgo is collapsing on comfy office couches next to an always-full basket of candy. Libra is late nights in the library. Scorpio is

hiding from the cops in a dorm bathroom. Sagittarius is movie nights filled with endless, gut-clutching, wheezing laughter. Capricorn is running my last Extravaganza. Aquarius is watching baseball on Saturday afternoons. And Pisces is picnics on the bluffs followed by sunset swims in the ocean. All things considered, I feel

tremendously lucky to have had a college experience so saturated with love. I owe it to the amazing people that surround me, the one-of-a-kind professional opportunities I’ve been provided and, as always, to sunny Santa Barbara. Now it’s on to new bests and worsts, but here’s to always remembering the ones I’ve had here.

Carrying a significant load of fear and doubt but the right amount of hope and desire to be a part of something, I found myself in the Daily Nexus office, curious if it would ever feel like home. Four years later, and I can tearfully say that I never imagined something could be so hard to say goodbye to. My time at the Nexus was more than a time-consuming

extracurricular; it serves as a constant reminder of my growth on both a personal and professional level. The Nexus challenged me, yet was also one of my greatest sources of comfort. It is such a privilege to recurrently create a tangible product that informs our local community and an even larger privilege to work alongside such talented individuals. The people at

the Daily Nexus are not only exceedingly brilliant and hardworking, but they are also kind, funny and some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I am forever grateful and in debt to my amazing Production team: Olive for teaching me more than I could have ever envisioned and Mina for taking the initiative to lead. The Nexus couldn’t be in better hands for what’s

to come. I’d also like to thank Devanshi, Atmika, and Holly for evoking such warm and unconditional support. I am reminded that love is real when I think about how strongly it exists between us. I leave the Nexus with a heavy but overwhelmingly happy heart, and I encourage readers to be kind to themselves and never doubt their ability to belong.

me, then a timid seventeenyear-old, and fundamentally changed the course of my time at UCSB.

A freshman is not an easy thing to be at UCSB, but I owe everything to Stench and its stinkers for smoothing out my integration into this crazy college and helping me thrive here as a result. It was a Stench writer who fed

a bagel to drunken, semiconscious me and then helped me call an Uber back to FT. It was a Stench writer who nearly took my virginity. It was a Stench editor who took me on a hike to Inspiration Point my sophomore year, where I could take in a view of all of Santa Barbara, feeling genuinely grateful for how much this beach town had

given me. It was Stench that allowed me to check off all kinds of bucket list items: put expletives on the front page, put a picture of myself in the paper, photoshop and publish Chancellor Yang with a sixpack. Chancellor Yang as a ghost living in a cursed locket. Chancellor Yang with a juicy dumptruck. Chancellor Yang as a butch

lesbian (okay, this one is fake, I had to leave a few ideas for the next editors).

But more than anything, Stench let me be a confident, loud, uncensored version of myself, unafraid to take up space. That has been the greatest gift of all. To the next generation, remember: no pussies on payroll, always pee after sex and stay fucking stanky.

TAURUS

APRIL 20 - MAY 20

Punch through a wall. Aim higher.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Get o Tinder, get on BetterHelp.

CANCER

JUNE 21 - JULY 22

To be alive is to be in need of love.

LEO

JULY 23 - AUGUST 22

Try to see things how they are, not how you want them to be.

VIRGO

AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22

Curiosity is natural, but it is also a choice.

LIBRA

SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22

ink about kissing someone.

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21

Be careful who you admire and why.

SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21

Your body is a sti steel in an unfathomably in nite space.

CAPRICORN

DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19

Stop looking for love and really see the people in front of you.

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18

You are the eye of the storm.

PISCES

FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20

It is impossible to schedule your crises.