CAMPUS
University of California President Janet Napolitano and all 10 UC chancellors released a statement on President Trump’s executive order on Monday. “We are deeply concerned by the recent executive order that restricts the ability of our students, faculty, staff, and other members of the UC community from certain countries from being able to enter or return to the United States,” the statement read, referring to the order that bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the U.S. for the next 90 days. “While maintaining the security of the nation’s visa system is critical, this executive order is contrary to the values we hold dear as leaders of the University of California.” It continued to state that the UC is committed to supporting all members of the UC community who are affected by the executive action. Associated Students also released a similar statement offering their support and resources to members of the student body who are affected and/or concerned by the executive order.
Due to the continued advocacy of the Afrikan Black Coalition, the University of California has agreed to terminate its relationship and divest from Wells Fargo. The Afrikan Black Coalition’s website states that this decision to discontinue approximately $475 million in existing contracts and line of credit with Wells Fargo by April 2017 “comes on the heels of several cities and states terminating their relationships with a bank that has caused great harm to our communities.” The Afrikan Black Coalition is encouraging the UC to exhibit the leadership that is “necessary for the survival of communities targeted by a criminal financial system.”
In an effort to combat increasing threats to the security of University of California information systems and data, all UC employees are required to complete online cyber security training. “As a top research institution, we owe it to ourselves to safeguard our data and our networks,” said UCSB Chief Information Security Officer Sam Horowitz to the UCSB Current.
ISLA VISTA
Paul Gusman, the UCSB student who assaulted Isla Vista’s Father Jon-Stephen Hedges this past May, was sentenced to three years probation on Thurs., Jan. 26, after pleading guilty to felony assault and misdemeanor battery. He must complete 200 hours of community service and pay nearly $18,000 in restitution, the Santa Barbara Independent reports. After Gusman apologized in court, Hedges stated that he would like to be involved in Gusman’s restoration process, and he objected to the court’s order restricting Gusman from contacting Hedges and his wife, Melissa. Gusman faced a hearing before UCSB Judicial Affairs on Friday.
COUNTY
On Thurs., Jan. 26, Santa Barbara County volunteers took stock of the county’s homeless population in a survey that occurs every two years, in partnership with Common Ground Santa Barbara County and Americorps. Volunteers recorded the number of people currently without a place to live and what their circumstances are. The semi-annual results are used as a basis for federal funding of homeless services, according to Santa Barbara Noozhawk. Past surveys have shown approximately 1,500 homeless persons in the county at a given time.
NATIONAL
Rep. Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara announced on Saturday his proposed legislation to ban future oil drilling off the California coast, the Santa Barbara Independent reported. The announcement coincided with the 48th anniversary of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, an event that made worldwide headlines and led to the creation of Earth Day. “I am committed to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and the great risk oil drilling off our coast presents to our environment,” Carbajal said.