|
Dear KCSB listeners and Daily Nexus readers,
Unmasking Isla Vista is a collaborative, multimedia series made up of six components that will be released over the span of six weeks. The series will cover topics including Human Struggle, University & Students, Testing & Vaccines, Local Business & Essential Workers, Community Reflection, and Community Activism. Each section will be presented as a Daily Nexus article, KCSB News radio segment, and a KCSB newsletter. You'll find a new segment published every Monday at 10 AM.
– KCSB and Daily Nexus journalists
| |
Unmasking Isla Vista: University & Students
by Sindhu Ananthavel, Holly Rusch, Atmika Iyer, Asumi Shuda, Ashley Rusch, and Yulene Teagle
| |
- Following the announcement of campus closure during Winter Quarter 2020, UC Santa Barbara – like all universities – began its journey of responding to the pandemic on multiple fronts, including academic dishonesty concerns, mental health among students and housing for first and second-year students. As the university calculated and executed its response, students grappled with the challenges the pandemic posed to learning and living as a UCSB student.
- The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) reported a "large increase in referrals for academic dishonesty," as stated in a campus-wide email sent in January. According to the email, students "feel less connected to the learning community than they felt in person, and this feeling has created detachment from normal academic standards."
- International students on M-1 and F-1 visas also had to navigate the July 2020 announcement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) that international students who were not attending their fall 2020 academic term in person would be barred from residing in the U.S. Though the policy was later reversed, many international students faced complicated travel restrictions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and fear of not being able to return to the U.S.
| |
- Though international students were ultimately allowed to stay in the U.S., Fall Quarter 2020 brought its own complications. Students who chose to return home outside the U.S. faced different time zones for classes and lectures, and those remaining in the U.S. experienced isolation and witnessed a rise in hate crimes against East Asian peoples.
- "You can read the news about how Asian communities being attacked because of the pandemic and all the sentiments from the last U.S. president, 'Kung Flu,' that kind of thing. If you read those news online, read comments talking about this, you will just feel said," International Chinese student and 2021 UCSB graduate Tianyi Huang said.
- Students faced mental health challenges in juggling the demands of being college students with the pressures posed by the pandemic. The American College Health Association Spring 2021 revealed the trends in the following graphic about the mental health of college students over the past year. Some professors, like Walid Afifi in the communication department, said that he tried to "take a humanistic approach to being a professor while simultaneously maintaining rigor" because "students, everyone, we all need to feel supported." UCSB's drop-out rate stayed constant during the Spring and Fall Quarter 2019 and Spring and Fall Quarter 2020.
| |
- University housing arrangements have been uncertain due to changing COVID-19 guidelines from the state and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. The university originally limited fall quarter undergraduate housing in August 2020, only accommodating those with "special circumstances." Only Guardian scholars – students in the foster care system – and unaccompanied houseless youth fell under this classification. These students were offered housing at the San Clemente Villages graduate apartments.
- UCSB resident assistants (RAs) were severely affected by changing housing policies. UCSB RA applicants were told just a month before the beginning of fall quarter that their employment would be suspended during the 2020-21 school year. In response, the UCSB RA Coalition demanded housing and benefits through a Change.org petition that had 941 signatures as of Oct. 5, 2020. As a result, UCSB sent 23 RA offers for Winter Quarter 2021, though 40% of these accepted applicants announced the deferment of their appointments until the 2021-22 school year.
| |
- The university plans to open housing at full capacity for Fall Quarter 2021. Chancellor Henry T. Yang has said that the university will continue to monitor public health guidelines for any possible changes, such as requiring all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear masks in indoor spaces as of August 3, 2021. But with the recent uptick in COVID cases, many students relying on the university for housing remain uncertain about their living situations for the upcoming quarter. Most students living in I.V. signed leases months ago, which could lead to students scrambling for housing if they aren't offered a contract.
- Both the UCSB administration and students are planning for an in-person school year while continuing to navigate academic dishonesty, travel restrictions, mental health difficulties, and housing shortages. Read the full story in the Daily Nexus or listen to KCSB's podcast episode for more.
| |
|
About KCSB News:
KCSB News is a team of volunteer reporters, students, and community members who contribute to the KCSB 5 pm Newscast (Mondays/Thursdays) and Inside Isla Vista (Wednesdays at 5 pm) on 91.9 FM and KCSB.org. To listen to recent news stories go to soundcloud.com/kcsbfm.
Report for KCSB News! No experience is necessary; we will train you. Email news@kcsb.org to find out how. Got a news tip? Send it to news@kcsb.org.
About the Daily Nexus:
The Daily Nexus continues to be the go-to source to stay up-to-date on all things involving UCSB's campus and Isla Vista. We offer positions for writers, photographers, artists, and any creative souls interested in immersing themselves in culture and information. The Nexus provides a fast-paced environment for aspiring journalists, as well as learning opportunities for students who want to explore the stories that define our community. Check out recent news stories here.
Get involved with the Daily Nexus! No prior experience is necessary, and all UCSB students are welcome. Each section has its own application, and art, photography, copy, and production teams require applicants to submit a sample of their work. Email news@dailynexus.com for more information on how to join.
NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK Have suggestions for us to improve our newsletter content? Fill out this form with any feedback/constructive criticism you might have, and we'll be sure to take it under consideration as we produce our newsletter.
| |
|
|
|
|