CAMPUS
Ranked number four in the nation for students studying abroad for a full year, the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Education Abroad Program has received a Freeman Foundation grant to the tune of $150,780. The grant, that follows a five year increase of nearly 75 percent in enrollments for EAP’s Asian programs, is projected to fund 36 students studying abroad in Asia for the 2017-2018 academic year. In order to qualify for grants, students studying abroad are required to complete an internship and a related research project.
Associated Students Senate held their first meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center Flying A Room. Senators voted to ratify the results of the Villarreal Election Commission in a 20-0-4 vote, with four abstentions from Sens. Jonathan Lopez, Unique Vance, Jordan Mitchell and Lesly Silva. Senators also passed their first resolution of the year, put forth by Sens. Bianca Fernandez and Matthew Greenberg, to adopt a mission statement that details the need for respect, accountability and transparency.
After a year of planning, the Alternative Transportation Project, originally spearheaded by the Commission on Disability Equality chairs Steven Kwok and Brandon Lee, is finally underway. Applications opened on Monday through the Disabled Students Program, making students with short-term or long-term immobility eligible to receive weekly Lyft codes to provide transport to and from campus. The codes, allotted for 20 students a week, will grant each individual two free rides per weekday. $40,000 of the program’s funding comes from an Associated Students allocation approved in May, an effort that was largely put in place by current AS President Austin Hechler and former Senator Jerel Constantino.
ISLA VISTA
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released information last Tuesday about a suspect on the 6600 block of Sueno Road challenging residents to a physical confrontation. In a statement, they requested public assistance in finding the suspect. Police found “shell casings and an unexpended round” in the front yard of one residence following 9-1-1 reports of gunshots fired in the area. Anyone with additional information is requested to call the Isla Vista Foot Patrol at (805) 681-4179.
COUNTY
The Santa Barbara Community College’s Science Department received a $5.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education this week. The grant will go towards expanding SBCC’s “Removing Barriers to STEM Success,” which assists SBCC STEM students access many educational opportunities across campus.
After a five month investigation, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department arrested two Goleta men for selling of 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Guillermo Rea, 27, and Victor Ruvalcaba-Romero, 36, were arrested on the 5800 block of Calle Real. The confiscated amount of methamphetamine has a street value of over $730,000.
Congressional candidate Salud Carbajal is facing controversy over his private comment of Lompoc to be the “armpit” of Santa Barbara County. Justin Fareed, also running for the California 24th District Congressional seat, recently released a campaign ad focusing on Carbajal’s comment.
NATIONAL/STATE
According to state water officials, the end of California’s 2016 “water year” on Friday marks the fifth consecutive year of dry weather and low snowfall. Even with the above average precipitation in Northern California, sixty percent of the state remains in severe or extreme drought. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center predicts potential La Nina conditions in the coming months, but gives no guarantees on an increase in rainfall.