After a tumultuous meeting, the AS Senate passed a resolution to condemn Hamas and failed to pass one condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia. KCSB’s Joyce Chi and Zoha Malik explain the strong reactions to the two bills and the Senate meeting itself – support, criticism, and a major walkout.

[Correction: This story includes a statement that Senator Eric Carlson "attempted to resign from the Senate." To clarify, he attempted to resign as Second President Pro-Tempore, but has not yet. As of the November 29 AS meeting, he is still serving in that position.]

AS Senate Passes Resolution to Condemn Hamas, Amid Walkout Protest

A new documentary examining the Black mortality crisis and racial inequities in healthcare debuts at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 11th at 12 PM and February 13th at 2 PM. To learn more, KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke with Micere Keels, the director and producer of The Fight For Black Lives.

For more information --
blacklivesdocumentary.com
sbiff.org

SBIFF: 'The Fight for Black Lives'

Saturday, February 10th, was the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Virtuosos Awards, during which noteworthy talent was recognized and representation was discussed. KCSB’s Zoha Malik attended the red carpet alongside Yas Tsipena, speaking with talent including honoree Charles Melton, then covered the ceremony.

SBIFF 2024: Storytelling and Representation at the Virtuosos Awards

Planning to throw a party in Isla Vista? There are some new rules to follow. IV's social host and festival ordinances had not been updated in years. Find out what's new as KCSB's Clarissa Hom speaks with the head of the IV Foot Patrol, SBSO Lt. Garrett TeSlaa and also with Noozhawk's Rebecca Caraway to learn more.

Inside IV: New Rules for House Parties

KCSB's Emily Kimmel spoke with Professor Bridget Coggins, who gives her insight on the conflict between the Houthis in Yemen and the US and UK government. She helps to provide context and explaining the wider implications of the actions of both the Houthis and US and UK.

An Interview With a UCSB Professor on the Houthis in Yemen

UCSB’s chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) recently formed. KCSB’s Zoha Malik spoke with two JVP representatives to learn more about the organization's mission and their pro-Palestinian advocacy.

UCSB's JVP on Creating a Space for Anti-Zionist Jewish Students

UCSB professor and artist Kim Yasuda has an upcoming speaking event for UCSB Reads, discussing the art of public practice and campus placemaking. KCSB’s Kelly Darroch interviews Kim Yasuda about her art and Isla Vista, as well as her upcoming event in the library on February 27.

UCSB Reads Artists on Art: Kim Yasuda

On the March 5th primary ballot, Roy Lee is challenging incumbent Das Williams for reelection for First District Supervisor. KCSB's Lily Ulrich spoke to both candidates.

Meet the Candidates: 1st District Supervisor of Santa Barbara County

The Multicultural Center, or MCC, is considered a hub for protecting minority students and diversity. However, recent anti-Zionist posters have drawn backlash, resulting in the MCC’s temporary closing. At a recent AS Senate meeting, Jewish students discussed the MCC posters and anti-Semitism on campus. KCSB’s Joyce Chi recaps what we know so far.

UCSB’s MultiCultural Center Closes After Backlash to Anti-Zionist Posters

During the upcoming primary election on March 5, Californians will vote on Proposition 1, which, if passed, would allot money to aid the homeless population. KCSB’s Abbey Guerrero explains.

Proposition 1 Explained: Homelessness on the Californian Primary Ballot

Ashley Segat from KCSB reports as Central Coast Antiwar Coalition volunteers deliver letters to UCSB Administrators, urging divestment from military manufacturing companies. Ashley interviewed Marcy Winograd and Helena Pasquarella about their roles and goals within the coalition, and recapped a conversation with Dr. Umesh Mishra, the Dean of Engineering.

CCAC Delivers Letters to UCSB Admin In Divesting From Defense Contractors

UCSB's Department of Black Studies held a Day of Interruption on Thursday, March 7, 2024, the anniversary of "Black Sunday," calling for freedom of expression and assembly, and expressing solidarity with Palestinian activism on campus. The day featured a rally calling for UC divestment and a teach-in. KCSB's Brandon Yi and Mario Fuentes-Godinez have the story.

UCSB's Department of Black Studies Holds Day of Interruption with Rally for Palestine and Teach-In

UC Santa Barbara’s MultiCultural Center was closed on February 26th, 2024, after anti-Zionist posters were hung up on the MCC’s walls. Some of the posters called out AS President Tessa Veksler by name. KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke with President Veksler on March 6th to discuss these events and the fallout.

This version features narration and context.

AS President Tessa Veksler Discusses the Closing of the MultiCultural Center (Full-Length Ver.)

Final results in Michigan’s Democratic Party primary revealed that President Biden won with roughly 80% of the vote. However, nearly 14% of voters filled in their ballots as “uncommitted”. Over 100,000 people voted against Biden as a result of the administration's handling of the Gaza Crisis. KCSB’s Mario Fuentes-Godinez has the story.

Michigan Primary Voters Condemn Biden Administration's Handling of Gaza Crisis

UCSB AS Student Body President Tessa Veksler is facing a recall petition, which could potentially lead to her being removed from her role. 327 signatures are required for the petition to move forward. KCSB’s Zoha Malik spoke with one of the students sponsoring the petition to learn more.

Greenish Blue

AS President Tessa Veksler Faces Recall Petition

UC students Charlene Macharia, Maggie Modovsky and others, began a hunger strike amidst hostile campus climate to demand UCSB divestment from weapons manufacturing, among other demands. KCSB's Ashley Segat recaps the various chain emails between the students, professors, and A.S. Senators regarding resolutions.

Hunger Strikes Demand Change to Hostile Campus Climate, as A.S. Senators Draft Resolutions

KCSB's Rosie Xuan hosts this episode focusing on Deltopia safety advance planning. It features an interview with KCSB's Clarissa Hom and Owen Meyers, leader of the AS-UCSB group UCIV, about how this student group will be keeping streets and residents safe over this spring festival weekend. Rosie Xuan speaks with IV's top law enforcement officer, SBSO Lt. Garrett TeSlaa, about special enforcement plans over the party weekend. You'll also hear about a festival that the IVCSD, IV's local government, is planning to keep the party safe. 

This episode also features an interview about Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with members of the UCSB Persian Students Group.

Inside IV: Deltopia Safety Plans + Nowruz

In light of the 2014 Isla Vista shooting, KCSB's Abigail Alberti reviews research on incel behavior and dating habits, sitting down with UCSB sociology professor Dr. John Baldwin to discuss why this research is so late to take place.

The New Research on Incels' Dating Habits and Psychology

An attack on aid workers with the World Central Kitchen by the Israeli military has prompted a cascade of aid withdrawals from Gaza, after a series of drone strikes left 7 aid workers dead. KCSB's Abigail Alberti has the story.

Seven Aid Workers Killed by Israeli Military in Gaza

The Chair of the Elections Board at UCSB announced during the AS Senate Meeting on Wednesday, April 3rd, that his team had begun verifying signatures for a recall petition that seeks to remove AS President Tessa Veksler from office. KCSB’s Joyce Chi has more.

Elections Board Begins Verifying Signatures for AS President Recall Petition

Ramadan is a yearly thirty-day period during which Muslims reflect and fast from sunrise to sunset. KCSB’s Zoha Malik attended an iftaar put on by UCSB’s Muslim Student Association to learn more about how Muslim students on campus are observing this year’s Ramadan.

How Muslim Students At UCSB Are Observing Ramadan

The AS Senate convened on Wednesday, April 10th to discuss the efforts seeking to remove AS President Tessa Veksler from office. The meeting stretched into the early hours of Thursday morning, as the 19 Senators finally decided the fate of the recall election. KCSB’s Joyce Chi explains the results.

(CORRECTION: This story previously incorrectly stated one of the public forum speakers, Açucar, which spoke in favor of the petition moving forward, was a minutetaker. They are not. It has been updated.)

Photo credit: Mario-Fuentes Godinez/KCSB News

AS Senate Ratifies Recall Petition, Rejects Recall Election

Psychologist Dr. Deborah Smilovitz Foster explains the impact of art and creativity on your brain and well-being.

This interview aired on KCSB on Thursday, April 11 at 5:30pm in conjunction a reading of the UCSB Reads 2024 selection "Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.

Your Brain on Art: A Psychologist's POV

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a Michigan school shooter, were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison for manslaughter. Hayden Stengler with KCSB has the story.

Parents of Michigan School Shooter Convicted of Manslaughter

An "Art for Palestine" demonstration was held in front of the library in solidarity with the global economic blackout in protest of the war on Gaza. KCSB's Ashley Segat recounts the scene and the students' calls for USCB's divestment.

Photo credit: Ashley Segat/KCSB News

UCSB Chapters of SJP and JVP Host "Art for Palestine" Demonstration

Three candidates are running to be the student body president of UCSB. KCSB’s Zoha Malik talked to one of those candidates, Ephraim Shalunov.

Meet the Candidates: Ephraim Shalunov (Abridged Ver.)

In Claremont on April 5, 2024, 20 students at Pomona College were arrested after a group of protestors occupied the college president's office during a pro-Palestinian demonstration. KCSB’s Mario Fuentes-Godinez spoke with Eunice, an arrested demonstrator and Pitzer College student, about the events.

20 Protestors Arrested at Pomona College After Pro-Palestinian Demonstration

AS Senators Jeffrey Adler and Ephraim Shalunov authored a resolution to investigate the circumstances of the April 10 Senate meeting. KCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with both senators to learn more. This story was updated to include perspective from the administration and is currently ongoing.

AS Senate Opens Investigation Into Recall Petition Senate Meeting

A ballot initiative for restricting the rights of transgender youth had its name change denied by a judge after changed by the California Attorney General. KCSB’s El Messerschmitt explains what the initiative is as well as the reactions against the name change.

Transgender Youth Ballot Initiative Name Change Rejected by Judge

KCSB's Joyce Chi recaps the results of the 2024 AS election.

Visit elections.as.ucsb.edu for the full list of results.

2024 AS Election Results Announced

Calls for UC Santa Barbara’s divestment from defense contractors reignited on April 25, as pro-Palestinian protestors held a day-long teach-in at the Student Resource Building. KCSB’s Joyce Chi explains what the protest was like.

“No Business as Usual”: UCSB Divest Coalition’s Day-Long Teach-In for Palestine

UCSB's AS Senate passed a resolution to condemn the Israeli Government’s and the Israeli Defense Forces' dehumanization of Palestinians this past Wednesday, May 1, after lengthy discussion among Senators and public forum. KCSB's Zoha Malik has the story.

AS Senate Condemns Israeli Government's Dehumanization of Palestinians

UCSB faculty, researchers, workers, and students held a rally to demand the university breaks ties with military funding, among other demands, on Wednesday, May 1. KCSB’s Zoha Malik has the story.

UCSB Faculty, Researchers, Students Hold Rally to Demand Divestment

At least 115 tents have been set up as part of an anti-war encampment outside the UCSB Library. KCSB's Joyce Chi recounts what we know so far about the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. (NOTE: This story was aired on Monday, May 6.)

What We Know So Far About the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at UCSB

After showing support for a bill in favor of a monitor to inspect jails more, San Diego County’s Paul Parker has resigned. KCSB’s Nathan Luna has more information behind the resignation.

Law Enforcement Oversight Board Executive Resigns After Record High Deaths in San Diego County Jails

KCSB's Ginger Thomas speaks with Brian Barth, a Bay Area journalist who has become invested in the unhoused community. He explains the risks of corporations immensely profiting from clearing homeless camps, and how we must alter the system to see any improvements.

Journalist Brian Barth On $100 Million Corporate Gain Through Clearing California's Homeless Camps

Authors, Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen show the healing nature of art through their book, Your Brain on Art. This is the 2024 UCSB Reads book selection. Through their experiences with hardware design, neuroscience, and intuition for the arts, the two authors bridge the gap between the world and another medium of healing and understanding the world. I asked the authors about their collaboration, and the significance of art in our modern society. KCSB's Brandon Yi spoke with the authors ahead of their appearance at UCSB's Campbell Hall.

Inside IV: Your Brain on Art Author Interview 2024 UCSB Reads

The Kent State Massacre occurred during on-campus protests for America's involvement in the Vietnam War, during which the Ohio National Guard killed 4 students, and triggered nationwide protests and further political divides. KCSB’s Emily Kimmel recaps what happened in light of nationwide college protests.

Remembering the Kent State Massacre

“There, Where the Bank Burned,” is a radio documentary commemorating the events of February 25, 1970 in Isla Vista, CA, when activists set fire to the local Bank of the America.  

Produced by Tim Owens, a former KCSB student general manager and broadcaster. The program digs into the KCSB archives and other vintage recordings to feature KCSB News coverage of the Isla Vista riots, the bank burning and recordings depicting police violence against protestors, including the sounds of deputies breaking down apartment doors to arrest the residents living inside.

Sound Courtesy of KCSB FM, UCSB Library Special Collections, Matthew Berger & Eugene Kingdon, with Isla Vista Blues composed and performed by Ted Levatter. Find out more about this historic event at https://www.kcsb.org/special-programming-50th-anniversary-of-the-isla-vista-bank-of-america-burning/

Inside IV: There Where the Bank Burned

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You can listen to our newscasts on-air Monday and Thursday at 5:00 pm and new episodes of Inside Isla Vista on Wednesday at 5:00 pm, all on KCSB-FM 91.9 or at kcsb.org.

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