With the motivation to help fellow students, two individuals, Kyle Lakatos and Max Aung, speak out about the development of a new campus group, The Element Lounge. The organization has worked hard to promote LGBT community within the STEM departments here at UCSC, facing initial isolation, but progressive success.

Smart Meters are the newest wireless technology to hit the street. These digital devices replace the old analog way of measuring the gas and electrical usage of a household or business. This seemingly innocent device has provoked debate among Santa Cruz community members. There’s a new movement in town called “Stop Smart Meters.”

Hundreds gathered in homage to recently deceased second-year Camila Lee at the Cowell Dining Hall on the evening of Oct. 6.

From Oct. 12 to Nov. 16, UCSC’s Wednesday Night Cinema Society will be screening “An American Family,” one of the most influential and controversial reality TV series in America’s history.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced the implementation of a series of controlled burns at Wilder Ranch State Park, located two miles north of Western Drive along Highway 1.

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed SB 185 last Saturday. Brown said Proposition 209 motivated the veto, as the proposition does not allow college admissions to factor gender and ethnicity in their decision. Brown said that he does however support the aims of the bill.

This week’s Community Chest highlights Chris Silva, a third-year UC Santa Cruz student who actively engages in volunteerism. As the director of the Student Volunteer Center, Silva looks to bring his extensive past volunteer experience to bear.

Filmmakers from around the world partake in the 23rd Pacific Rim Film Festival, a week-long even in which artists present their films in Santa Cruz and Watsonville in order to spread awareness of cultural differences.

Sunday saw the California State Champion UC Santa Cruz club soccer team, Slug FC, lose a game to UC Berkeley A. Senior captain Juan Urquieta had harsh words for his team to fire them up and defend their title.

Gov. Brown supports the second part of the California Dream Act by signing AB 131. Under this bill, undocumented students will be eligible for financial aid.