University of California-Santa Barbara

INTRODUCTION

The University of California–Santa Barbara (UCSB), located on the Pacific Coast and about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, enrolls 21,685 students, of which about 3,000 are graduate students. The nearby community of Isla Vista acts as a residential quarter for students enrolled at UCSB and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). Isla Vista has a population of 20,000 people, of whom about 13,000 are college students. A series of alcohol-related tragedies involving UCSB and SBCC students, coupled with media-reported extreme drinking, have increased concern about student alcohol use on both campuses. Most recently, the April 2014 Deltopia spring break event, where youthful revelers consumed alcoholic beverages openly, turned violent after a university police officer was struck in the head with a backpack containing large bottles of alcohol. A Town Hall Meeting was planned at UCSB by Jackie Kurta, Alcohol and Drug Program Director, and Debbie Fleming, Senior Associate Dean of Students, with logistical support from Syreeta Elie, Alcohol and Drug Program Operations Assistant, as an opportunity for a frank and solution-driven dialogue among community leaders.

EVENT DESCRIPTION 

The UCSB Town Hall Meeting was held in the community rather than on campus and was by invitation only to a broad, but carefully selected, list. According to Kurta, “We wanted not only people who we felt should be there, but those who really want to take some initiative—not to just talk—and take ownership for solutions, including students who are already involved in addressing problems.” 

The organizers sent invitations to UCSB staff in student life, mental health counseling, student health, Greek Life, and orientation programs and to representatives from county alcohol and drug and mental health offices. Invitations also went to county officials, including the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff’s Department, and the UCSB Police Department; and to local faith-based organizations, the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District, business owners, and Isla Vista residents who are part of local councils or safety commissions.

The 2-hour event, held on May 2, drew about 75 participants, including 30 students, who participated in table discussions and used the Poll Everywhere technology system. This system enabled participants to use their smartphones, Twitter, or web browsers to text their responses to questions in real time. As Kurta explained, “The most used responses show up bolder and bolder and bolder, making a cloud of words with the most common words showing up largest. We asked questions on what people love about Isla Vista and what they think needed to be changed to establish some common ground.”

Organizers also set up 10 tables, each assigned a topic, with participants from different stakeholder groups. Each table group was asked to discuss its topic and recommend the most important issues that the community needed to address.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Participants stated that the event had initiated a discussion about underage and high-risk drinking and possible solutions, especially in relationship to Isla Vista. On the basis of this feedback, Kurta and Fleming organized a follow-up meeting for June 6, 2014. Kurta reported that the follow-up meeting drew about 65 persons, about half of them students, and that newly elected student body leaders were committed to finding solutions to alcohol-related problems among students.

NEXT STEPS

UCSB has a long history of organizing and participating in campus–community collaborations and will continue to do so. According to Kurta, a future focus will be on putting together some safety systems, perhaps with individuals trained in bystander intervention and calling for assistance, and clarifying policies with law enforcement. “We are planning to develop very specific collaborations between property owners and students, and the county and the students. Just getting people face to face helps a lot,” explained Kurta.

For more information:
Jacqueline Kurta
jackie.kurta@sa.ucsb.edu

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