UCSC Students Petition Admin Over Inadequate Housing and to Oppose Upper Campus Expansion

Via Change.org:

Petitioning George Blumenthal

Provide Adequate Infrastructure for the Students of UC Santa Cruz

After this first week of Fall Quarter 2014 it is clear that the housing and transportation systems of UC Santa Cruz are inadequate for the volume of students needing access to campus. Campus enrollment is the highest it has ever been and it is negatively impacting the amount of resources available for students. The University has an obligation to provide and advocate for these services at a reasonable cost.

-- If on-campus housing is full, the University must utilize and increase their community relationships to help students find affordable housing. Many students are sleeping on couches, living in hotels, and are paying exorbitant rents for dilapidated or crowded housing.

Instability in a student's living situation directly affects their ability to focus, study, and do well at our amazing school.

We also believe that building into Upper Campus is NOT an adequate solution to this problem and will only add to the over-enrollment issue.

-- The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District is a huge asset for students, and it is unacceptable that students are unable to access efficient transportation to campus. Buses are routinely full before they reach the Laurel & Blackburn stop, leaving dozens of students at subsequent stops stranded and unable to get to class on time.

The University and the TAPS department must communicate with the SCMTD to increase the amount of city buses available during peak times. Other steps the University must take include:

- Increase funding to TAPS for more loop buses during peak hours

- Advocate for programs like Lyft or Uber for students who need to be on campus for late-night activities

- Increase the amount and frequency of bike shuttles

- Collaborate with on-campus groups for increased bike safety workshops

- Increase promotion of the Bike Library program (http://bikelibrary.weebly.com/)

It is a wonderful thing that UCSC is building a more diverse community committed to research and learning. However, failure to address these basic infrastructure needs will force students to drop classes, and many more people than that will hold the University in poor regard -- both of which will result in decreased future enrollment. Please address these issues as soon as possible so our entire student body can feel safe and secure in their basic needs, allowing increased productivity and increased banana slug pride.

Sign the petition:
https://www.change.org/p/george-blumenthal-provide-adequate-infrastructure-for-the-students-of-uc-santa-cruz