CAMPUS
University of California Blum Centers are now working together to address issues of global poverty, economic equality and democratic engagement in a cross campus effort dubbed the UC Blum Federation, according to a statement released on Mon., Feb. 8, from the UC Office of the President. With a newly approved $1.32 million, the UC Blum Federation is aiming to expand course offerings for a poverty studies minor, enhance the Big Ideas Contest, and foster student-run programs geared toward solving national and global issues.
UCSB’s CALPIRG chapter held a press conference at the Arbor on Wed., Feb. 3, to announce the release of their newest student-written report “Covering the Cost: Why We Can No Longer Ignore High Textbook Prices.” Surveys conducted at five U.S. universities revealed that 30 percent of students use financial aid to cover an average of 70 percent of their textbook costs. The solution CALPIRG poses is the open textbook, or creative commons license, which would save each student an average of $100 per course if one traditional textbook per quarter were replaced with an open license text.
ISLA VISTA
An attempted robbery at IV Deli Mart morphed into a skirmish last week between the perpetrator and Patrick Galoustian, the owner of iVmenus. A video initially posted by the iVmenus Facebook page shows a white male adult leaving with goods without paying. When stopped and pulled back, the subject threw a punch at bystander Galoustian. UCPD officers arrived on scene after a few minutes and arrested the subject.
A single engine plane crashed in the Goleta slough (adjacent to State Route 217 and the Goleta Airport) during an emergency landing on the evening of Mon., Feb. 8, at 5:40 PM. The pilot, the sole occupant of the plane, was forced to perform an emergency landing after the plane lost power. He was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with only minor injuries. Runways reopened by 6:14 PM that same night.
NATIONAL
In the spirit of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, President Obama is upholding his pledge to slow climate change by proposing a $10 fee for every barrel of oil produced by American oil companies. As part of the President’s budget request to Congress, this fee is projected to bring in $32 billion a year. Fees collected would fund infrastructure and more environmentally sound methods of transportation, like high speed rail and electric cars.