Food Allergies on Campus
Coming into college, firstyears worry about a lot of different things — getting along with roommates, difficult course loads and homesickness. But for me, as a student with food allergies and intolerances, eating safely was my number one concern. My first experience with the UC...
From Farm to College
Situated near the base of campus at UC Santa Cruz, the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) teaches students and apprentices about sustainable farming and grows a variety of produce items each year. CASFS sells a portion of this to UCSC Dining Services...
Is Veganism the Answer?
Cows produce 37 percent of the total methane released into the atmosphere. It takes 1,000 gallons of water to make one gallon of milk. Cattle ranching is the leading cause of destruction to the Amazon rainforest. Yet in the U.S., the average person continues to...
From Bodyguard to Food Service Worker
Every day, Osmin Cruz-Garcia can’t believe he was able to make the over 3,000-mile trip from his hometown of La Libertad, El Salvador to Santa Cruz. He recalls the 7.6 earthquake and mudslide that hit La Libertad in 2001, killing over 800 people, destroying homes...
Academics in Love
At UC Santa Cruz faculty makes up about 2,800 members of the institution, which includes professors and lectures, but what happens when their best academic collaborator is their romantic partner? Tesla Jeltema first met Stefano Profumo 12 years ago through a mutual friend while Jeltema worked...
Spoken Love
This is my face / Framed by my short coarse hair that I started loving too late / Sparse eyebrows sit insecurely above puzzled eyes / My mouth, barely wider than my nose / My ears, home to seven of the nine holes on my...
Love for Days
While Valentine’s Day in the U.S. is only one day for couples and friends to show their love, Korea takes the festivities to another level. The country celebrates Valentine’s Day in addition to White Day, Black Day and nine other Korean holidays dedicated to love...
The Things We Keep
From baby shoes to human teeth and puppets to old letters — these are the objects we hold dear. People collect souvenirs to mark their journeys and to remember specific moments in their lives. These keepsakes say as much about the moment as they do...
Post-Modern Family
No, that’s not my uncle or a family friend. When I say it’s my dad’s partner, I don’t mean he’s a police officer. No, I’m not adopted. These are the answers to questions I’ve been asked my whole life. But what’s the big deal? My...
Roses are Red, Violets are Blue…
On the Westside of Santa Cruz, florists buzz around Shay’s Flowers and Gifts. The shop is packed to the brim with roses, tulips, daisies and orchids. It’s a week before Valentine’s Day and orders have poured in as shops all across town prepare to deliver...