As the month-long winter break came to an end, students began returning to campus after the holiday season. While getting back in the groove, there is new information to help make the transition easier.

Every semester, each corner of campus brings new and exciting opportunities.

The Center for Equity and Social Justice (CESJ), Umoja, and Dream Center have each curated an extensive catalog of events to mark off in the calendar.

Mariam Martinez, a coordinator who is in charge of creating an all inclusive haven for the LGBTQ+ communities on campus, highlighted some of the upcoming opportunities at the CESJ.

“I think bringing us together is important to understand that we’re not alone in our journeys as queer people,” the student leader said. “We constantly have people around us that we don’t even know about.”

Martinez is planning ‘True Colors,’ an event aimed to evoke a welcoming and safe space where everybody can thrive and create relationships with like-minded individuals. True Colors will take place every third Thursday of each month.

Dream Center Student Program Advisor Leslie Marin excitedly announced ‘radical wellness week,’ which will be filled with a myriad of activities such as vision boards, yoga, and a movie de-stress event, all taking place Feb. 12-16.

Lelia Richardson, Umoja Program Advisor, introduced Black History 365, a new initiative beginning on Feb. 15 where Umoja is welcoming families within the whole Santa Barbara community to join them for a celebration of Black history. 

“This is part of our initiative to connect with the Santa Barbara community,” Richardson said. “Bringing the community onto campus and letting them know that it is a community college for a reason.”

Near the gardens on lower East Campus stand the Basic Needs Center (BNC) and The Well.

The BNC is supplied with water, groceries and produce, all free of charge. The center is also home to Love’s Closet, where students in need can receive up to three items of clothing per visit.

The Well is available to accommodate the needs on campus and provides feminine hygiene products, narcan kits, and sexual health products with more wellness opportunities on the website.

Starting this year, there are no longer any COVID-19 related steps in order to come to campus. Beginning Jan. 1, vaccination requirements were removed for all in person activities on all campuses, according to City College’s mitigation plan. Daily health screenings are also no longer required, but an abundance of COVID-19 resources remain available.

As we enter the third week of the semester, many places on campus are open for last minute housekeeping. On East Campus, the bookstore can provide student essentials and a campus card can be obtained at the Campus Center across from the cafeteria. To expedite the route to class, a parking permit is available for purchase on the City College website.

In the heart of East Campus, the cafeteria is located in the Campus Center, buzzing with student life, colored by murals and often illuminated by the warm afternoon sun.

To reserve a quiet place to study or get writing and technical support, the library and Learning Resource Center are on West Campus, with the entrance looking out over the Great Meadow. 

For some people, graduation is right around the corner. To confirm everything needed for graduation, make a career counseling appointment and fill out the diploma request form.

Within City College’s administration, some changes have taken place. The search is underway for a new superintendent president to take over the role from Kindred Murillo, who has been the interim superintendent president since 2021. Additionally, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Martha Swanson, has taken a new job in New Zealand, and has left her title to Amanda Jacobs.

To learn about art gallery exhibits, sports schedules, work study and many more opportunities, explore the City College website.