How We Think About How We Think About the Universe: A Conversation With George Blumenthal
Organic artichokes, endangered species, the complexity of the universe, self-driving cars, and the illustrious words of Shakespeare usually don’t find themselves in one discussion series. But for UC Santa Cruz alumni Michael Riepe and David Hansen, topics like these make up Slug & Steins —…
A Glimpse into the Santa Cruz Skate Scene
This article was written prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. The sound of wheels scraping smooth cement echoes throughout Derby Skate Park. Skaters gain speed as they glide down the sides of the snake run into the bowl. Someone speeds across, launching himself out of the…
Investigations Into Engineering Professor Found to Warrant Discipline
Updated: Dec. 6, 2019 10:55 a.m. Content warning: This article contains references to sexual and racial harassment. *A pseudonym is used to protect the source’s identity Four hundred and sixty one days ago, Alex Muhammad* filed a formal complaint against UC Santa Cruz computer science…
Engineering Professor Under Investigation for Harassment
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains language related to sexual harassment, racial harassment and verbal abuse. *A pseudonym is used to protect the source’s identity. “I don’t think I can take this Dimitris,” Alex Muhammad* told his spouse in October 2017. “He’s awful to me. Even in…
Students and Housing: Not So Simple
Almost every student stresses about housing. Although it may not always be as extreme as living in a car or sharing a house with 10 people, each student feels the pressure of the housing crisis. *Name changed at the request of the student due to…
Unsheltered
At about 5 a.m. on an October morning, two houseless people were tucked away beneath the arch of a Pacific Avenue doorway. Red and blue lights brought an end to their rest as a police vehicle came to a stop before them. The emerging officer…
Student Activists Halt Chancellor Search Committee Meeting
Surrounded by student activists pressing forward, third-year Jared Semana was at the front of the police line when UC Santa Cruz police officer Robert Locke-Paddon pushed his forearm against Semana’s neck, a move which caused Semana to believe he was losing consciousness. “Even though he…
Balakrishnan Case Closed
Content warning: This article contains references to sexual harassment and assault. [button color=”” size=”” type=”square_outlined” target=”” link=””]UCSC professor Gopal Balakrishnan was found by Title IX to have violated the university’s policy on sexual harassment. The Title IX investigation conclusion follows years of hushed stories and…
Opening the Door on Retaliation
Graphics by Dagmar Kuta Content warning: This article contains references to sexual harassment and assault. *Name has been changed to protect the anonymity of this source. Due process within the Title IX system provides protection to the accused. But in the last year, several complainants…
From Medical to Recreational
Proposition 64 came into effect this January allowing recreational cannabis use, but with it came a slew of taxes and regulations that are financially disadvantaging small cannabis businesses and medical users. While they struggle to keep up with new regulations, low-income medical patients can no…