The theme of this year’s conference was “Solidarity and Community through Empowering Our Youth.” Students from a Los Angeles area high school came to participate and learn from the experiences of UCSB students. “We can’t really address these issues of higher education without involving [the youth]…instead of being talked about, they should be talking with us,” said Justin Reyes, one of the event organizers.

The all-day conference began with an address by Marisela Marquez, professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies and president of La Casa de La Raza, an outreach program for the Latino community in Santa Barbara. Marquez discussed the irrational fear that results from racism, asking, “Why must it always be that the other is scary?” She insisted that race is not innate, that it is a social construct that can be deconstructed. She also discussed AB540, a resolution that allows immigrant youth who have lived in California three years and received a high school diploma to pay in-state fees at a UC, although they cannot get financial aid. For Marquez the best solution involves no fees for education, and therefore no “gifted” or “special” group of youth.

The Facing Race conference hosted various workshops led by students, artists, and student-artist-activists. A few of these dealt with expressing identity or activism through forms of art. Another focused on the low rates of matriculation by Filipino students in the UC system.

A workshop led by Christine Byon, a fourth year student, and Paulina Abustan, a second year, explained institutional barriers to diversity. One of their key examples was Proposition 209, which banned race, gender, or ethnicity based hiring practices, passed by California in 1996. Other resolutions, SP1 and SP2, were passed in 1995 to ban the use of race, gender, etc. in admissions or hiring at UC’s, but were repealed in 2003 due to student activism.

After these laws went into effect, there were record low numbers of many minorities in the UC system and funding of outreach programs decreased from $80 million to $19 million, although universities began focusing on student experience rather than just test scores in admissions and guaranteeing more spaces for transfer students from community colleges.

Abustan and Byon presented the education system as a pipeline, with each level of education being a crack through which more and more students are falling. Many of the obstacles to higher education–lack of school supplies, lack of AP/IB courses or SAT prep, high tuition fees, or culture shock–especially impact minorities who often live in poorer areas.

A 16 year-old girl from a West Hollywood high school talked about her best friend who just dropped out of high school but is a great cook and wants to go to culinary school. “Are people really going to judge her just because she dropped out of school?” she asked.

During lunch, there was an art show featuring paintings and murals by Jose Francisco Solis, Jose Olivera, and Vanessa Terran. There were also spoken word and musical performances by Kitzia Esteva, a UCSB student, and Manuel Unzueta, an artist and activist from Mexico. Unzueta encouraged students not to be afraid to say something that may seem different and said, “The purpose of the university is to speak the truth.”

Reyes felt that the event was a success and an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to “challenge themselves and really think about their life experiences and how they relate to the issues we talked about.”

Everybody who attended made a pledge to increase awareness and accessibility for those less privileged in a way most relevant for themselves. Karin Tanaka, a second-year biology major who attended pledged to “educate [her]self further about these issues”. The workshop leaders and participants expressed their belief that small actions, done consistently, can add up to major change.

SCORE is one of many groups on campus working toward equal access within the UC system. They meet Tuesdays at 6 PM on the 2^nd floor of the Associated Students Building.

Nas performed his hit singles spanning over his 14-year career. Some highlights included “One Love” and “Hate Me Now.” Another crowd pleaser was the 1996 hit “If I Ruled the World,” enhanced with Nas’ personal touch, stating, “If I ruled the world, I’d give you George Bush’s head on a silver platter.” He then continued on his angry political tirade, commenting on all the current presidential candidates.

“Obama listens to hip-hop, Hillary doesn’t. Bill did. John McCain… Fuck McCain!” he yelled. Needless to say, Nas’ political choices are crystal clear. After Nas’ energetic performance, he headed straight to his trailer to change into some fresh clothes.

I walked over for my interview, and unwittingly entered while he was still changing. We made awkward eye contact while he was in mid-shirt removal, but I tried not to let that ruin the interview.
I started by asking about the progress of his new album, entitled N—-, which is set to release on July 1st. He explained how the process of creating an album is always exciting because it’s a rare opportunity to be given.

Of his new album he says, “I really won’t know how I’ll feel about it for years to come because rap music is topsy turvy. Fans are with you one day, one day their not.”

Recently, Nas began working with Def Jam Records, a record label that is known for producing high-selling hip-hop and R&B artists in the music industry. He explained to me about his experience recording with his new label. “This album has been the hardest. It’s a new label. It’s Def Jam. I think they’re really into one thing, a thing that works—the numbers, the hit records and shit like that. Anytime record companies are like that, they fail to see the vision of the artist who’s trying to do what he does.”

I mentioned his first studio album Illmatic, the type of high-selling album that Def Jam would love to produce, and asked if he was ever afraid to stray away from the style that established him as an artist. He responded by saying, “The only thing that I’m really afraid of is not being me. I just always want to be honest about being me.”

One thing Nas emphasized about his new album is that it’s not going to be anything like his previous ones. “As you grow, you gotta talk about it. I’ll never be the kind of guy that sells you the same gimmick every year, like I’m the same person for all these years. I change, different things interest me, and I try to approach it in a way that most hip-hop artists can respect.” Respect in the hip-hop industry is hard to come by because it is constantly changing, according to Nas. He explained that when he released Illmatic in 1994, the music industry didn’t respect hip-hop music the way it is respected today. He added, “I don’t really care too much about selling albums no more. Now, it’s just a blessing to have music to vent. It’s a way different business now.”

Nas then went on to discuss how even his musical inspirations are constantly changing. He naturally listed Run DMC and Just-Ice, popular influences to the early New York hip-hop scene, but you can imagine my surprise when he suddenly added Shania Twain and Madonna to the list. I couldn’t help but let out a little laugh after his response, but what followed was no laughing matter.

The title of Nas’ new album was brought up. Recently, Reverend Jesse Jackson and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) expressed their disapproval of the new album title, N—-. Nas had this to say in response:

“The NAACP is over my head as far as the complexities of what made that organization what it is. And from my understanding, they’ve done a whole lot. But there are some new people on the [activist] scene and they have to make way for the next generation to come up and speak their mind. I respect everything they’ve been through, but I’m in this struggle… and I gotta express myself.”

“The word is a horrible one. The word comes from the history of a black holocaust, in this country where no one wants to reconcile. But the problem started when we turned the word into a culture that influences fashion, your walk, your talk, your conversation, and your music. And that’s why they’re afraid for [my album] to be in stores. They don’t know how to handle it and that’s why I made the title what it is. Instead of sweeping it under the rug like they wanna do, I bring it to the forefront. I have to deal with [racism] on the forefront, so it’s definitely going to be in my music.”

He goes on to defend the hip-hop genre. “The biggest mistake people make about hip-hop music is that it’s just a violent thing. [People think] it’s bad guys spreading bad culture. And no… it’s just [rappers] saying what they feel.”

It is evident by his previous work that Nas says what he feels in his music, even when what he says can be controversial. He feels that as an artist, he cannot create change but reluctantly admits to being able to bring attention to issues. “What I feel, I say. I know there has to be at least one person out there that can feel how I feel and who is probably smarter than me that can go to the next level with it. I’m just one little guy speaking his mind.”

He continued by speaking his mind about America and issues that he feels our society should resolve. Nas explains how he used to notice problems in the black community and think it was solely a problem with black people. He later realized that the same problems are also going on in other social groups. “I think we need to really realize what this country can be if everyone is unified. It’s not a threat to anybody.”
Nas then refers to the debates over immigration laws, “People are so scared. The world is taking a natural course and America needs to accept it.” Nas obviously had passionate feelings about the subject. I wouldn’t be surprised that he could write an entire album on the issue.

After all the good things he had to say about hip-hop, I wondered if Nas still thinks it’s dead, like he proclaimed on his 2006 album. He assured me that his opinion remains the same. “It’s been dead since 2-Pac and Biggie [The Notorious B.I.G.] died, for me. To other people, it died when the Furious 5 couldn’t sell records no more. To other people, it’s been dead for their own particular reasons.” Although he thinks hip-hop is dead, Nas feels its spirit is still alive and well because of artists like Kanye West.

I sat down with bassist Chris Sorenson and asked for his views on Santa Barbara. “Well I just got here and I’ve been here before,” he said after taking a break from the band’s soundcheck, “It reminds me of where I live now.” Later in the interview, he admitted to being an avid fan of Freebirds.

Having completed both American and European tours, I was interested to find out what Sorenson had to say about college campus tours. “We’ve played on college campuses too, like USC, UCD and others,” he said, “College tours tend to be different because there’s a lot of performers and music going on. It’s more diverse in a crowd and it’s cool.”

I went on to ask about their thoughts on the other artists performing at Extravaganza, including any possible feeling of nervousness to play with explosively popular Hellogoodbye and headlining act Nas. “I never got that starstruck by anyone or anything like that,” Sorenson stated, “Hellogoodbye is doing really well right now and Nas is one of the biggest acts out there, so it’s a good fusion of rock and hip-hop.”

As their already extensive fan base grows, Saosin has been working hard on the early stages of their next album, due to be released on Capitol Records sometime in 2009. I received minimal details from the band, except a vague, “We’re writing right now,” from Sorenson. They also mentioned they plan to finalize the music before working with lyrics. During their performance, vocalist Cove Reber openly lamented about his inability to divulge any new material.

Being signed to renowned label Capitol Records, I felt obliged to ask Sorenson about the treacherous issue of creative control between artist and label. “[Without being on Capitol Records we would have] never realized that we are capable of doing things on our own terms. There’s definitely expectations and being on a major label, you kind of hold back. You can’t necessarily do everything you want, so you kind of have to be smart about it. At the end of the day, the label know the business aspect so you have to keep standard to that.”
When asked about his musical influences, Sorenson cited plenty of 90’s artists, such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Portishead.

Before letting them return to rehearsal, I asked Sorenson about the last album he bought.“It’s the Cat Power record, which I can’t remember the name, but it’s her record. The one that really sealed the deal in terms of being a straight songwriter.”

On that note, I ended my interview with an exchange of high fives and words of good will.

I had the amazing opportunity of interviewing lead singer Forrest Kline and bass player Travis Head before they performed. Travis, Forrest, their friends, and girlfriends gathered in lawn chairs under a white canopy tent that Associated Students Program Board had supplied with mass quantities of Gushers, Capri Sun, and Fruit Roll Ups.

The dance-inspiring sound of Hellogoodbye began when Forrest and Jesse Kurvink, high school friend and current band member, recorded a few songs on Forrest’s computer. They each wrote some songs, experimented with the sound and lyrics, and looked for gigs in Huntington Beach, CA, their hometown.
Hellogoodbye achieved fame with their platinum single “Here (In Your Arms)” and appearance on MTV’s “Real World: Austin.” Their hugely popular single led the group on an international tour through Europe, but missed a few places that Forrest wanted to play. “We missed Italy and Spain,” he said, popping a blue gusher into his mouth. Travis joked that he would like to play in Antarctica or maybe at Coachella. To this Forrest responded with, “In all the world, you want to go to Indio.”

There’s a rumor that Hellogoodbye’s new album will be released sometime this year, but fans speculate how it will differ from their first. Since their last tour, Forrest has set up a recording studio in his home garage and the group is taking their time with this next album. Travis used the words “Emo” and “Organic” to describe the sound of their new album.

When asked if they had any advice for upcoming artists or groups, Travis said, “You have to listen to good music to make good music.”

“Yeah music is a pretty important part,” Forrest added, “Well start with t-shirts,” sporting a teasing smile on his face. Following the laughter, the conversation veered towards television. The short-lived cult classic “Arrested Development” is Travis’ favorite television show, while Forrest enjoys “The Office and Lost.”

“Here (In Your Arms)” was Hellogoodbye’s final song during their one hour set on Sunday. After Forrest’s first strums of his guitar, the crowd doubled. Girls, who were previously waiting in the never-ending line for henna tattoos, linked arms and surrounded the stage. While playing venues on college campuses is not quite like playing in Spain or Italy, Hellogoodbye’s legions of adoring female fans still lavished them with screams and gyrating hips in Santa Barbara.

Although the ban will be lifted in California, federal rights and protections afforded to opposite-sex married couples will not apply to same-sex couples because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage. Massachusetts is the only other state to recognize same-sex marriage; although other states offer domestic partnerships with some rights given to opposite-sex marriages. According to Equality California, a group dedicated simultaneously to the “community, hopes, dreams and families and youth,” this ruling will allow California to “give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people full equality”. Other states would not recognize California’s same-sex marriages if the couples were to move or travel.

Professor Rupp believes that she will probably now marry her partner of 30 years, but believes that her love does not need external state validation to be real. She also brings up an the larger issue of so many legal and economic responsibilities (such as power of attorney, life insurance benefits, inheritance, etc.) being legally tied to marriage when they should be granted to whomever a person chooses.
QSU co-chair Sam Cisneros calls the move a “good step in the right direction,” and believes that same-sex marriage will “inevitably become a part of society.” Cisneros also recognizes that some states might be slow to respond. Movements for same-sex marriages in other states could soon be invigorated, and might eventually pave the way for a federal ruling. Nina Garcia believes that, “sometimes people just need a little push… and hopefully they’ll accept it as it is – the right thing.”

California’s new ruling could spark momentum for other states to allow gay marriage. As the state with the largest state population in the country, California could act as a legitimizing agent for gay marriage elsewhere. Many celebrity couples also reside in California and a wave of celebrity marriages, such as the proposed nuptials of Ellen DeGeneres and long-time partner Portia de Rossi, could act to further legitimize same-sex marriages for the rest of the nation.

Garcia believes that in addition to allowing non-heterosexuals to marry in the future, which she describes as “frickin’ awesome,” the legal move will help UCSB students come out to their parents because their sexuality will be more accepted in the larger community. Disclosing to friends and family is often a difficult event. Professor Rupp believes that for UCSB students the decision “is a sign of a kind of equality that really matters”.

In celebration of the historic event, the Queer Student Union held an impromptu queer bombing at Giovanni’s the night of the announcement, with about 60 people in attendance. The on-campus group could possibly be planning another, more public celebratory event, but aren’t sure at the moment. When asked what this court ruling meant for the annual Queer Wedding, an on campus event protesting the inequity of marriage and celebrating queer love, Brittini Tanenbaum, Programming coordinater and Vice CoChair of the QSU replied, “The wedding will still happen because not everyone in the country has rights.” The QSU meets Tuesdays at 7 in the MCC and can be contacted at ucsbqsu@gmail.com or through their Facebook group.

The lift of the ban is expected to prompt backlash from conservatives, and already many anti-queer organizations such as Save Marriage and Protect Marriage are pushing for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. An amendment would need enough signatures to bring it to the ballots before it could be voted on by the state in November. Governor Schwarzenegger says he will respect the Supreme Court’s decision, despite vetoing previous legal attempts to allow same-sex marriage. The proposed constitutional amendment would nullify the Supreme Court’s decision by inserting, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” a phrase which 18 other states have already added to their state constitutions. When asked what he would say to those who want to keep marriage only between man and woman, Cisneros replied, “Just have respect for everyone. It’s just love that people want.”

UC students will now have to pay nearly $500 more per year, continuing the trend of a more than 84% increase in fees in the last decade. This decision could lead to a lack of diversity and accessibility within the UC system, according to the UC Student Association (UCSA) and its allies, as well as be a step down the road to privatization.

After the final “Yes” vote was cast, many students marched out, but some refused to leave and continued chanting “Regents Regents can’t you see, you’re creating poverty!” About 15 students were arrested, two of them UCSB students, but were all released within a few hours.

The Regents met over the course of three days to discuss many issues, the fee increase being the most controversial. During the period of public comment in the morning, people brought up issues from the creation of a medical program at UC Merced to living wages for service workers. Only 20 minutes were allotted for all to speak, and only about 20 people out of 50 who signed up were able to approach the microphone. Emma Gonzalez, a graduate student and TA at UCSB, asked, “Where’s the money going?” and explained how many of her classes lack adequate supplies, including desks. Another student stated passionately, “By approving this increase you are telling the state that it’s okay to homogenize the UC’s, that it’s okay to push out lower income students, that it’s okay to stop serving the public….We are not just numbers, we are students and we will not be pushed out.”

During the lunch break before the meeting of the committee on finance, students and service workers marched outside the building with picket signs stating “Education is a right” and “We are cooks, we make you dinner”. Many people shared the megaphone amid cheers and chants. Patrick Mitchell, a member of the American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and a UC healthcare worker, said that the UC cannot “retain and recruit” workers because they are not paying them a living wage, and at the same time they are losing students because they cannot afford to attend. According to him, about 80% of UC service workers are eligible for food stamps and other public relief. He also mentioned the large bonuses that the Regents receive, such as the well over $600,000 per year salary of the incoming President Mark Yudof, and the fact that the students must pay for them.

One of the Regents, California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, came outside to speak with the students and show his support. “This is a particularly dumb idea,” he stated regarding the fee increase, and later added in a presentation to the Regents that the UC Master Plan’s commitment to access and affordability is being undermined. He advocated a resolution for a fee freeze, and to increase fees only with inflation. His resolution was shot down.

Many of the Regents in favor of increasing fees expressed concern over funding from the state. They said that the governor’s budget for the UC is $418 million below what they were asking for, and that the legislative budget will continue to be very uncertain, which could “imperil critical priorities…maintaining quality faculty, providing adequate salaries for staff, and a full range of things.”

According to Richard Blum, Chairman of the Board of Regents who paid “$150 to go to school at Berkeley”, he is “all in favor of calling Sacramento’s bluff…but every time we’ve called their bluff for 4 years, we’ve lost.” He also said that he was under the impression that the Cal Grant paid for everything for students from families with an income of under $60,000, which elicited many boos and hisses from students present. Another Regent clarified the fact that the Cal Grant does not cover everything, and that students with parents making just over $60,000 are hit hardest by fees.

Russell Gould, another Regent supporting the fee increase and the Senior Vice President of Wachovia Bank, said that “if the legislature sees us walking away from taking the action that will help ourselves, and trying to put the pressure on them, they’ll be comfortable saying ‘Well, obviously you didn’t need the money’”.

Paulina Abustan, a second year at UCSB who is involved with UCSA, was one of four “whiteliners”- students who are chosen through an application process to be allowed to attend the meeting on the side of the room reserved for the Regents and important corporate figures. She was able to talk intimately with some of the Regents and made a very important connection that is rarely shared by the students and the small group of middle-aged leaders who are appointed by the governor to run the UC. She said that one woman whom she talked to normally voted for fee increases, but had a change of heart this time. “It shows hope and progress,” she said.

Eddie Island, a retired attorney and executive who voted against the fee increase commented, “I had hoped that the case would have been made that we had wrung out every bit of excess and waste in this University, so that if we had to then turn to students and their parents, we would be able to say to them in honesty, ‘We have no choice.’ But we are not there today. We have a choice.”

Committee on Oversight of the Department of Energy Laboratories

Early the next morning, the Regents’ meeting reconvened with a public comment period. During this period, a student collective read an official statement from the UCSB Associated Students Department of Energy Lab Oversight Committee (DOELOC) on UC management of two nuclear weapons labs (Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories). The statement dispelled misinformation Regent Norman Pattiz–chairman of the Regents’ Committee on Oversight of the DOE Laboratories, president of both Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) which manage the labs, and founder and chairman of radio conglomeration Westwood One–had told at the March 19 Regents’ Meeting regarding the labs.

The statement came after increased student and worker-led demonstrations for grievances like fee hikes (a decision made apparent only the day before), worker’s rights, and UC nuclear lab management. This time, something rather unusual happened: after the students’ collective statement, Pattiz stood up from his place at the Regents’ table and walked to the far corner of the Covell Commons conference room, where they sat in the public comment area. He ducked under the partition, sat down, and proposed to meet with DOELOC at UCSB sometime in the near future, within the next few weeks, he said. Students responded with enthusiasm to the further idea of giving a presentation (not unlike the one recently held in North Hall) about the labs, and their true nature and function.

Next was the Regents’ Committee on Oversight of the Labs meeting, during which Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi asked a series of very pointed questions regarding UC’s lab management and plutonium pit production at Los Alamos, such as, “So, the UC is directly involved in manufacturing nuclear weapons, correct?” and “Just so we’re clear, Los Alamos is now the only facility that can manufacture plutonium pits, correct?” S. Robert Foley answered the first question with little clarity, prompting Garamendi to press harder on the question. Then Pattiz stepped in to say, “Okay, yes, UC is directly involved with manufacturing nuclear weapons” and Garamendi snapped back at Foley for responding inaccurately to his question. Garamendi continued, asking more questions and elucidated how it’s not in the UC’s best interest to be managing these labs. Eventually Pattiz interrupted Garamendi, citing “Chair’s privilege” to cut Garamendi off and bluntly end the meeting.

The rest of the day at Take Hold! University featured more workshops, including a UC demilitarization workshop which, though sparsely attended, was very well received.

The cast, which consists of undergraduates and one graduate student, has performed from Santa Barbara, to Cuyama, to Santa Maria, and will continue throughout the quarter.

The Teatro Tour began four years ago with Dr. Carlos Morton, a well-known professor in the Theater and Dance department. “It’s a way of communicating with farm workers about issues that dealt with mistreatment of laborers,” said third-year Theater major and Teatro Tour member, Angela Cruz. “We use this style of theater as a way of telling stories to a young audience about the current issues that affect them in today’s world.”

Each member plays a role in the group as a designer, playwright, director, or writer. Being a “mobile theatre,” the cast must keep materials to a minimum, bringing only a box of props to each performance, often at local high schools.

The Teatro I class offered in winter quarter wanted to create anything but a typical presentation, acknowledging that presenting information about sex, drugs, and alcohol has become repetitive to high school students. Realizing this, the students wrote skits dealing with issues about ecology, voting, and homophobia.

“Eco-woman,” a environmental piece, focuses on issues regarding global warming. Adopted from the San Francisco Mime Troupe, the satirical skit involves characters such as the World, a Government Man, and Michael Moore. “The Importance of Voting” advocates the significance of the upcoming presidential election. Historic characters such as Abigail Adams and Susan B. Anthony make an appearance to demonstrate how suffrage has come a long way.  The skit, “Homophobia” explores injustices faced by the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Transexual, Queer, Intersex, and Allies) community, based on the death of Lawrence King, a queer high school student shot to death on February 12 of this year. Overall, the Teatro Tour presentations encompass many critical issues affecting modern society.

Members of the Teatro Tour have a passion for sending their message to audiences.  “By being involved in the Teatro Tour, we, the students, are changing the world through theater one step at a time, starting with high school students,” explained Chelsea Snyder, a third-year Theater major. Liz Uhazy, also a third-year Theater major, said, “to actually see the reaction of the audience, it inspires us as artists and expands our creativity.”

Contest participants readied themselves near 2pm as the first category, “fattest joint,” was decided. Other categories included fastest, primo, medical, and freestyle. Dr. Dave Berman, Candidate for Third District County Supervisor, was present as well. Dr. Dave’s message was to “take a friend to the polls [on June 3rd]…in the self interest of the people of Isla Vista.”

Meet Gregory Pike and his furry entourage: Booger, Kitty, and Mousey. Every day he walks around State street with Booger, the dog, on a leash. On top of Booger sits Kitty, who holds on to the harness around Booger like a saddle. On top of Kitty sits Mousey (who is really a rat), wrapped closely around Kitty’s neck. Its obvious the bond between these animals is deep – they all accept one another as members of the same family, regardless of their species. Greg has been spreading this message of peace, respect, and tolerance for eight years, and has become an integral member of Santa Barbara society, known and loved by our community.
Hailing from a small town in Colorado, Gregory Pike has been studying animal habitats and psychology for about 30 years. He has worked with animal rescues and rehabilitation centers for mountain animals, and has a diverse background in animal training.

“I’m a legend in my own mind,” he jokes, as he explains how his interspecies group came about, “If it ain’t been done before, I’m gonna do it. As long as it’s humane.” It all started about nine years ago, when “Someone said it couldn’t be done” – no one believed a dog, cat, and a rat could all become best friends. Greg simply had to prove them wrong.

“The dog raised the cat — I used her gestatation period to raise the cat like a puppy. She chose Kitty from the litter, so she thinks it’s her baby.” The cat was then raised around all sorts of small animals, and treats the rat as if it were its own sibling. With the rat, “it’s all about food.” Rats, it turns out, are very open to interspecies pairing, as long as they aren’t threatened and are properly taken care of. While it seems odd for the cat and rat to be stacked on top of the dog, Pike explains that it is the animals “safety zone”: It is where the cat and rat feel most at home and protected by their surrogate mother. Of course, it also helps Pike and his pals walk around a little faster, as well as avoid possible rat or cat tripping incidents.

“I understand animals and why they do things. I understand some of the barks, and the meows, and what the different ways they do it mean. I’m not a Doctor Doolittle, but I know what they’re asking for.” Not surprisingly, Greg also has some insights into what makes people tick as well, and with his act hopes to be able to catch the attention of people to pass on his messages of peace and humanity to the human species.
“Animals are simple, people are complicated. People wanna see something different, something unusual, something cool. But there’s gotta be a message behind it.”

Pike’s message comes from the simple reality of what he and his animals have accomplished together. It proves that all animals, regardless of their most vicious tendencies towards each other, can be kind and caring toward one another. Obviously these animals are able to do something we humans simply have not completely managed to do.

“Peace can happen anywhere — if they can do it why can’t people? You know, they’re just ‘dumb’ animals,but now, who’re really the stupid ones?”

While currently residing in Santa Barbara, he hopes to someday soon open up and run a free pet adoption and rescue center. This is one of the main reasons why he keeps a can out for money. Eventually, the money will be going to help wild animals and pets, as well as bring animal shelter issues to the attention of more people in America. In his hometown of Telluride, Colorado, the non-euthanasia, regulated adoption policies have worked so well there are never any strays left in their shelter for long periods of time.

“In Bakersfield thousands of animals a month are put down. A thousand animals a month, that’s ridiculous,” Pike says noting that it costs cities thousands of dollars a month to pay for euthanasia of animals, when they could be making money for shelters through adoption and more effective advertising of animals in shelters. But even with such extraordinary goals, he refuses to accept money if it seems burdensome upon others, stressing that its more important to spread the thought of a friendlier, more tolerant world than to make money.

“I do survive on what I get, but I don’t want it to be about the money. When I see people digging for money, I tell them, if its that much work, I don’t want it. I don’t want you to work for me; I just want you to come up and take a picture and enjoy this. The message is always more important.”

With the help of friends, Greg is planning a website (coming soon at www.thedogcatrat.com) which will become the main source of income for his free animal rescue, shelter, and training center. He is also currently looking into hosting a radio show on local Santa Barbara radio station KTYD (99.9FM) to go further with his plans. He hopes to start the program in his home state of Colorado, and through his successes spread the ideas of more humane treatment and non-kill shelters for animals into other states, as well as to give kids a chance to visit with him and learn more about the love possible between all species.

But for the moment, Greg will continue his daily trips down State Street, bringing his amazing animal trio with him and letting people stare dumbfounded at what he has accomplished. When it comes down to it, it is the simple pleasure of bringing something different and meaningful to people that keeps him going, regardless of how much money gets thrown in his cup by the end of the day. Clearly, this man is no longer just a legend in his own mind.

The Campus Housing Study, part of the LRDP, proposes that the future housing should be absorbed by newly created neighborhoods on what is now vacant land. Thus, Ocean Road. “Under-utilized property along Ocean Road at the western edge of the Main Campus, will be developed with a mix of staff, faculty, and graduate student housing to provide an improved interface with the adjacent community of Isla Vista” (Ocean Road Pattern Book). This development is one of eight areas of proposed development. The LRDP proposes development at the Storke and Santa Ynez neighborhoods, around Francisco Torres, in West Campus and the West Campus Mesa, the area around Facilities Management (an area near the intersection of Mesa Rd. and Stadium Rd.), and further development around Main Campus residence halls. However, the Ocean Road development is unique in its potential impact on the dynamic relationship between the University and Isla Vista.

The language of the Ocean Road Pattern Book illuminates the University’s present view of the Ocean Road area, which is described as a “no-man’s land” and as a “barrier between campus and Isla Vista.” These two descriptions raise the question of whether a distinct division between campus life and off-campus life should exist.

The Pardall Tunnel is a symbol of the division between campus and Isla Vista. As part of the plan for the Ocean Road development, “the present barrier-like tunnel and overpass will be replaced with a dynamic urban environment connecting the campus to downtown Isla Vista.” Such a development would make the area the beginning of a main artery connecting the campus to the most commercialized section of Isla Vista, which is due to be redeveloped, through the Isla Vista Master Plan, before 2025.

This coincidence seems to suggest at least a symbiotic relationship between the IV Master Plan and the LRDP, which suggests that the University will possibly have a larger influence (whether overtly or behind-the-scenes) in Isla Vista. According to Liz Buda, former Student Voice candidate for AS Vice President of External Affairs, the University has interfered in Isla Vista mainly to protect the public image of the University and of its student body. Life in Isla Vista has a great impact on this public image, and the local businesses play a large role in defining Isla Vista student culture. The redevelopment of the intersection of Pardall Rd. and Ocean Rd. would funnel University students, faculty, and staff into a redeveloped and commercialized “downtown Isla Vista,” which raises the question; would this link the University to some of the local business so much that it could have indirect influence in the affairs of Isla Vista? An attempt to contact Mark Fischer,who is the Associate Vice Chancellor, Campus Design and Facilities, and sits on the Campus Planning Committee and is Co-Chair of the Design Review Committee, to get a glimpse of the administration’s perspective on the relationship between Isla Vista and the University, was unsuccessful.

The administration of the University and Isla Vista businesses have the most power and the loudest voices in the LRDP and the Master Plan, but until June 23 the public is allowed to comment on the LRDP. There is a public hearing on Wednesday, June 4, at 7 pm, in Isla Vista Theater.