April in Santa Cruz showcases music without the audience
Roy Malan’s formal composure broke as he picked up his sleek brown violin. His eyes grew wide, and his demeanor became animated. Malan leaned against his violin, securing the dark wood under his chin and began plucking the taut strings with his nails, producing sharp…
Summer Fun Looms as Boardwalk Reopens
It’s just before noon on a sunny Tuesday in Santa Cruz, and while most folks were in their virtual classes or at their Zoom office job, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk had hundreds of people ready to ride the Giant Dipper for the first time…
One-Stop SHOP for Virtual Student Health and Wellness at UCSC
In response to the pandemic, 62.9 percent of young adults reported peak anxiety and depression levels according to the New York Times, coinciding with 24.7 percent reporting an increase or start in coping with substances. Sex, drugs, and alcohol did not disappear with the pandemic,…
UCSC hosts first sexual assault and violence research symposium
Content Warning: Contains references to sexual violence and harassment. Before the pandemic, 13 percent of all undergraduate and graduate students were likely to experienced rape or sexual assault, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. With that, the Department of Education is planning…
Ruling on Temporary Restraining Order in San Lorenzo Leaves Houseless in Limbo
Along the San Lorenzo Riverwalk, houseless residents can be seen biking, gardening, napping, and even lifting weights under the warmth of the spring sun. This is as close to idyllic as the park has been in recent months. But this relative quiet is deceptive. The…
As Other Cities Across California Adopt Hazard Pay for Grocery Store Workers, Santa Cruz is Lacking
*All worker sources are anonymous for their protection. Even under their masks, food service and grocery store workers are expected to do their jobs with grace and a smile. As essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, that means remaining friendly, efficient, and polite in spite…
Annual Watsonville Film Festival Goes Virtual
As the famed Cholitas Escaladoras de Bolivia, “Cholita Hikers of Bolivia,” neared the 22,837-foot summit of Mt. Aconcagua, their vibrant traditional skirts blow under heavy snow and high winds, filling the screen. At the other end of Latin America, the lush green mountains of Chiapas,…
UCSC Student Housing West Project Won’t Break Ground Until Earliest Spring 2022
After five years of continued litigation and complaints, the UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West (SHW) project was re-approved by the UC regents on March 18. Ongoing lawsuits from environmental committees and organizations forced them to restart the environmental review process. The lawsuits primarily contested…
Stones Unturned — The COLA4All Movement Continues
Dylan Davis’s work toward earning his doctorate in politics at UC Santa Cruz was temporarily derailed by the university when he was fired in Feb. 2020, alongside 81 other graduate students, for participating in last year’s COLA4All movement. The movement, founded at UCSC, saw graduate…
Santa Cruz County eases COVID-19 restrictions heading into spring
As of April 4, there are 15,363 cases of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County, including 200 deaths and 14,975 recovered. For updated information on vaccine eligibility, please check the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) website. As of April 4, UC Santa Cruz has…