Sophia Benito

July 21, 2026

‘Backrooms’ Should Be a Labyrinth with No End

By Sophia Benito

Kane Parsons' feature debut captures the eerie atmosphere that made the Backrooms a phenomenon, but its attempts to explain the mystery weaken the concept.

June 5, 2026

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is nostalgic but shallow

By Sophia Benito

Two decades after the events of the original film, 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' tries hard not to be a repeat of the original, but can’t stand on its own merit.

March 30, 2026

“Wuthering Heights” Replaces Feeling with Lust

By Sophia Benito

There’s no burning and longing; it’s all physical lust. It lacks the emotional weight that an adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” should possess.

February 26, 2026

Does Netflix need to make another Jane Austen adaptation?

By Sophia Benito

Sophia Benito, English major and Austenite, does not see the point in continuous Jane Austen movie adaptations.

January 5, 2026

Hamnet says “to be”

By Sophia Benito

Chloé Zhao’s "Hamnet" tells the story of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway during the events that inspired the tragedy "Hamlet."

February 11, 2025

Volunteers keep ‘Bark’ park clean

By Sophia Benito

IVRPD in collaboration with the UCSB Environmental Affairs Board, held a ‘Stewardship Saturday’ event on Feb. 1 at Sueño Park.

February 10, 2025

Library opens arts expansion

By Dylan Vo, Sophia Benito

The first floor Sara Miller McCune Arts Library reopened on Dec. 2 after renovations that modernized the space and added more seats and media tools.

November 22, 2024

UCSB Indus and Dhadkan co-host Diwali celebration

By Sophia Benito

UC Santa Barbara South Asian cultural organization Indus and student nonprofit Dhadkan co-hosted a Diwali celebration with nearly 500 attendees on Nov. 15 featuring catering and Garba dances.

October 28, 2024

IVCSD hosts Day of the Dead festival, Night Market

By Sophia Benito

The Isla Vista Community Services District hosted a Day of the Dead festival alongside an art festival and night market on Oct. 19.

October 18, 2024

MCC introduces new community guidelines after temporary closure last year

By Sophia Benito

After an incident involving signage resulting in the temporary closure of the MCC last year, the MCC has created new community guidelines.

October 17, 2024

Student guide to voting in 2024 elections

By Sophia Benito

This Election Day the UCSB community will be able to vote for the next president, local officials and other ballot initiatives. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.