UC Santa Barbara’s MultiCultural Center Lounge reopened on April 1, the first day of spring quarter, as stated by University administration in an email to the campus community. 

Though the MultiCultural Center (MCC) Lounge opened to campus, the doors of its office and theater — which can only be accessed through the office — are still locked. University spokesperson Kiki Reyes could not provide information regarding the locked office. 

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Margaret Klawunn, Dean of Student Life Katya Armistead and Interim Associate Dean of Student Life Joaquin Becerra announced plans to resume the MCC operations on April 1 in a jointly-signed statement on March 20. 

UCSB temporarily suspended the MCC, its services and its Instagram account following pro-Palestine student activists posting signage during a Feb. 26 gathering at the center, expressing pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist sentiment as well as dissent against specific university administration and Associated Students figures. The signage resulted in community backlash and social media doxxing of MCC faculty, staff and affiliated students.

The gathering was followed by statements from the University, MCC affiliates and the Department of Black Studies, as well as an announced hunger strike by graduate students and a day of interruption on March 7.

The Nexus will continue to report on this topic as more information becomes available. 

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Asumi Shuda
Asumi Shuda (they/them) is the Lead News Editor for the 2023-24 school year. Previously, Shuda was the Deputy News Editor, Community Outreach News Editor for the 2022-23 school year and the 2021-22 school year and an Assistant News Editor during the 2020-21 school year. They can be reached at asumishuda@dailynexus.com or news@dailynexus.com.