Category: One more thing

Teaching English in Vietnam

I went to Vietnam to work on a novel—but instead, I fell in love with the country and its people as I found a new career in teaching English. I'm encouraging my fellow Slugs to join me.

By Kent Wallace (Merrill '79, poetry and truth/individual major), May 2022

Fire, loss, and the embrace of community

A UC Santa Cruz staff member reflects on the devastating loss of their home in the CZU August Lightning Complex fires

By Kristen Lee, October 2020

Words of warning

By crafting a dangerous future from fragments of history, novelist Margaret Atwood implores us to pay attention to the present, writes alumna Kate Schatz.

By Kate Schatz (Stevenson '01, women’s studies and creative writing), February 2020

Debates on the wild frontier of genomics reveal where the real frontier lies

When I first received an invitation from Vatican City last summer to attend a global genomics conference, I did a double take. Fifty years prior, my father was among the priests who spoke out against the papal letter on birth...

By Jenny Reardon, October 2019

Wanted: Extraordinary chancellor for a campus like no other

As president of the University of California system, one of my most important responsibilities is searching for a new chancellor when one of the university’s campus leaders steps down. This year, I am taking on this challenge on behalf of...

By University of California President Janet Napolitano, March 2019
Turquoise splat image

We need your leadership

One of the first rules for a successful leader is to set and clearly communicate an agenda. In these tumultuous times, that is truer than ever, and it is as much about leadership and personal values as it is about...

By John Laird (Stevenson '72, politics), October 2018

Stay connected; it isn’t all about the money

As president of Compton College—which just last year was formally recognized as a California Community College, becoming the college system’s 114th campus—I feel I have a different perspective than most alumni on staying connected to UC Santa Cruz. Above: Keith...

By Keith Curry (Oakes ’99, American studies), March 2018

Saving science

In the days following the 2016 presidential election, I grew concerned about the impact of the new administration on environmental science, policies, and federal agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As my concerns grew, I knew I had to...

By Lindsey Dillon, October 2017

We will not turn back

UC Santa Cruz is an institution that recognizes—and cherishes—diverse opinions, disciplines, and backgrounds. This commitment is enshrined in our Principles of Community, which call for mutual respect and celebration of diversity. We Banana Slugs speak English, Spanish, Mandarin, Tagalog, and...

By Herbie Lee, March 2017
Bronze pour

Liquid alchemy

UC Santa Cruz is home to the last working metal foundry in the UC system, giving students the opportunity to experience an unusual level of artistic discovery.

By Sean M. Monaghan, October 2016