On April 7th, UC Santa Cruz issued a statement that the undergraduate Community Studies major has been suspended. The suspension restricts new admission to the major for at least two years. Professor and Department Chair B. Ruby Rich notes that, "Community Studies has roots back to the early days of [UC Santa Cruz] and a devoted following among students, alumni, and community organizations." In an interview with campus radio station KZSC, Community Studies Lecturer & Field Study Coordinator Mike Rotkin stated, "I don't want to be cynical, but there's been a number of programs that have been put on suspension in the past, none of them have ever come back."

On April 8th, the Coalition to Save Community Studies organized an emergency rally in response to the suspension of the major. The rally took place in UCSC's Quarry Plaza and then students marched to Oakes College where the department is currently based.

The suspension of the Community Studies Department and major is being perceived by many people as an attack on campus activism and community-based organizations. On April 7th, UCSC also notified numerous students that they are being fined approximately $1,000 each for allegedly being seen at the occupation of Kerr Hall in November, 2009. One of the five student mediators between UCSC administration and students at Kerr Hall has been singled out and is now restricted from the UCSC campus, suspended through December, and is said to owe the University of California approximately $1,000 in restitution.

Community Studies Suspended | Coalition to Save Community Studies calls for emergency rally | Save Community Studies Rally at UCSC | previous coverage: Defending the Community Studies Department at UCSC