Madeline Bryce/Daily Nexus
With Halloween just around the corner, students at UC Santa Barbara were met with unfortunate news after a noise ordinance from 10/26 to 11/4 was announced for this holiday season. Music will not be allowed to be heard from the street, and students will not be allowed to congregate together in large groups. People were disappointed, but unsurprised as Halloween had been canceled many times before—but no one was expecting the surprising follow-up news.
The noise ordinance is being extended indefinitely, according to the Isla Vista Police Department in a tweet posted a day after the original announcement.
“Party culture in Isla Vista has long been a hazard in terms of public safety,” Commander Garett TeSlaa announced. “We feel it’s our duty as law enforcement to protect our residents and put an end to all these dangers. In addition, we will be introducing a 6 p.m. curfew to ensure these parties do not take place.”
This announcement was met with outrage, especially among UCSB students. Many felt that their rights were being taken away, along with one of the main reasons they chose this school in the first place.
“It’s like they’re stripping us of our college experience,” one freshman commented on the post. “I’m literally paying tens of thousands to go to a college I can’t even have fun at.”
Many were also disturbed by the 6 p.m. curfew, viewing it as unreasonably strict.
“A 6 p.m. curfew?” a senior student posted on Instagram. “I thought that this was a hilarious, high-quality Nexustentialism article at first. But it’s real! What are they going to do next, set up security cameras on every block and introduce armed guards patrolling the streets at night?”
Following this announcement, the mayor of Santa Barbara Randy Rowse held a press conference on Sunday, Oct. 26th, to outline his plans for what he envisioned as a more secure Isla Vista.
“In addition to the indefinite noise ordinance and the mandated curfew, we will be setting up security cameras on every block and introducing armed guards to patrol the streets at night, all to maintain public safety,” said Rowse.
The mayor went on to unveil an ambitious infrastructure plan: the construction of a large, impassable barrier surrounding Isla Vista.
“This wall will begin at the cliffs and continue around the streets to ensure no residents accidentally wander off campus, or, God forbid, into Goleta. We are building toward a safer, more contained community,” said Rowse.
Many UCSB students are now in the process of transferring to other colleges.
The Gentle Giant Is transferring to UC Socially Dead.
