City on a Hill Press

Written by Paulina Garcia. Illustration by Danielle Jowell. In a recent campus news email sent by Chancellor Cynthia Larive’s office, Jennifer Johnson-Hanks was announced as UC Santa Cruz’s new campus provost and executive vice chancellor (CP/EVC). Johnson-Hanks, an anthropologist who specializes in cultural demography, has served as the executive dean of the College of Letters and Science at UC Berkeley for the past five years. The position advocates and builds connections for the 79 majors and various programs within the college. City on a Hill Press reached out for an interview with the new CP/EVC who is set to assume the position on Jan. 1, 2027. The interview was conducted via email due to scheduling conflicts. How will you ensure that student voices are accurately taken into account when approaching large issues impacting students, such as rising housing and tuition costs, severely delayed financial aid and access to mental health and emergency resources for students? Read more at link in our bio. #UCSC #studentjournalism #cpevc

Written by Emily Thorsen. Photos by Isla Patrick. The IAS is hosting its Spring Exhibition. This year’s selected artists in residency: Gina Athena Ulysse, Ronaldo V. Wilson and Libia Posada, span from across the globe. The exhibition opened on April 10 and is on view until August 16. “All of the work in this exhibition is about labor, dying, what is robbed from people of their agency and the joy of producing beauty, which they refuse to give up while they’re incarcerated,” said Visualizing Abolition visiting faculty fellow Pooja Rangan. “The work is profoundly about the relationship between labor, material, and artwork.” Read more at the link our bio. #studentjournalism, #cityonahillpress, #instituteoftheartsandsciences #art #ucsc ginaathenaulysse ronaldovwilson libidaposada

Written by Isabel White. Illustration by Danielle Jowell. On past election days, dark blue and black ink pens glide across ballots. Voters pass warm cups of coffee down a single-file line forming around the block. For the following months, blue and red “I Voted” stickers in various languages adorn benches, lapels and laptop cases. Election day is ingrained into the democratic system of the United States of America. It is a day where millions of Americans are invited to leave their homes and use their voice so that their values can be reflected in the country’s politicians. Still, one-in-three Americans choose to enjoy their cups of coffee at home when filling out their mail-in ballot. Read more at the link in our bio. #studentjournalism #ucsc #voting #votingrights

Written by Allison Aguilar Perez. Photos by Reggie Sasaki. When Obie Award-winning actor, writer and director Roger Guenever Smith met the late Jean-Michel Basquiat on an LA dance floor in the ’80s, it was friendship at first sight. “I was rapping, and ... he was attracted to my energy, and I was attracted to his hairdo,” said Smith when asked about his first impression. They hit it off immediately, with Smith later learning Basquiat was the latest up-and-coming prodigy in the New York City art scene. The sparks of their 40-year-long friendship burned bright after they met, and continued after Basquiat passed away from a drug overdose. Smith's inspiration from Basquiat culminated in the form of performance, his medium — a one-man show. Read more at the link in our bio. #studentjournalism #ucsc

Written by Laye Texx 💋 Illustrations by Jullian Cauntay Hi Laye Texx, I don’t know if this is the right place for this but my question essentially is how do I go about dating as a gay asexual man? All my relationships start with my partner telling me that they’re fine with a purely romantic relationship before realizing otherwise later on. I’m tired of people acting like I can be converted out of asexuality or being told that I won’t know if I like it until I try. I’m pretty open about my sexuality and what I am and am not willing to do, yet I always feel as though I have to kill a part of myself in order to be loved. Sincerely, Mister Aaron Ace Submit a letter to Laye Texx and read more at the link in our bio. #ucsc #studentjournalism #sexcolumn #ace

Written by Kate Lipsky Visuals by Reggie Sasaki and Cecilia Schutz Sixty years ago, a small group of determined banana slugs set out to build something UC Santa Cruz was lacking: an independent, student-run newspaper. Through the guidance of editor-in-chief Zack Wasserman, the group launched their first issue on Sept. 30, 1966 under the name Campus News. By the second issue, released Dec. 9, 1966, The Fulcrum was unveiled, with its masthead sketched in thick, black ink. But this name didn’t stick. On Jan. 13, 1967, the publication changed to what is now known as City on a Hill Press, accompanied by a small, hand drawn icon of an archer shooting a bow-and-arrow. Read more at the link in our bio. #studentjournalism #studentnewspaper #60th

Written by Bryce Chen and Reggie Sasaki. Additional reporting by Isabel White and Elle Benson. Find the list of affected institutions at the link in our bio. Read more at the link in our bio. #ucsc #santacruz #studentjournalism

Written by Camila Alvarez. Illustration by Jullian Cauntay. Farmworkers and their families, once empowered and comforted by the story of Cesar Chavez, were blindsided on March 18th when Dolores Huerta publicly shared past experiences of sexual assault perpetrated by Chavez. Huerta revealed multiple cases of Chavez’s assaults against her, exposing painful contradictions of a movement built on justice. “I didn’t feel I could say no because he was someone that I admired, my boss, and the leader of the movement I had already devoted years of my life to,” Huerta said in a statement. Her traumatic recollections reveal not only the reality of the abuse of hierarchical power, but also the prevalence of gendered violence in any setting. Despite her experiences, Huerta was determined to cement workers’ rights amid physical risk, and continued over the following 60 years. This year, communities across California recognized Farmworkers Day for the first time on March 31, a shift from the long-standing celebration of Cesar Chavez. In Santa Cruz and Monterey County, the change signaled something deeper: a long-overdue recognition of the collective struggle behind the Farmworkers Movement. The conversations surrounding the movement’s legacy, accountability, and collective recognition continue to unfold across California. Read more at link in our bio. (Spanish translation included) #justiceforfarmworkers #beyondchavez #studentjournalism #cityonahillpress #ucsc

Written by Remy Francisco. Photos by Arzu Azeem. Earth Day in Santa Cruz is a yearly celebration organized by the county of Santa Cruz and supported by various sponsors. The event is held rain or shine, with about 3,000 to 4,000 attendees every year. Climate action-focused organizations and local business booths lined the intersection of Pacific Avenue, Cooper Street and Abbott Square Market. A number of the stalls provided engaging ways to teach youth about eco-friendly living practices, like a hands-on composting workshop. Read more at the link in our bio. #ucsc #santacruz #studentjournalism

Written by Nicolas Carter. Photos by Priscilla Liu. At Raíces y Futuros, meaning “roots and futures,” attendees explored how the political framework of abolition can be applied to food systems to imagine a world where everybody has access to quality produce. Student organizers expressed that in a time when hope isn’t freely given and the future of our food system seems bleak, carving out places for community is tremendously important. Read more at the link in our bio. #ucsc #santacruz #studentjournalism

Written by Sasha Efimchik and Emily Thorsen. Photos by Isla Patrick and courtesy. Fifth-year astrophysics doctoral candidate Isabel Kain recalled her experience at a rally in the Quarry Plaza in fall 2021. As she listened to a mother of two speak about her struggles to support her family while making only $20,000 a year, Kain felt empowered and obligated to take action. “She was not being paid in a way that reflected [her] value. She literally could not make ends meet,” Kain said. “She was really struggling.” Read more at the link in our bio. #ucsc #santacruz #studentjournalism

Written by Isabel White and Allison Aguilar Perez. Illustrations by Mikayla Palmquist. Diversity took a step back as neutrality took center stage. “The Trump administration is not only trying to scare students, but it’s trying to devalue how hard students of color have to work,” said Francisco Ornelas, the Student Union Assembly representative for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MEChA) at UCSC. “[They’re trying to] show us that we’re not worth belonging here, and that the university is not meant for us.” Read more at the link in our bio. #ucsc #santacruz #studentjournalism