<p>Really hate the students at UCSC? I heard that there is friction between the students and the townfolk. Is it true?</p>
<p>I never heard that. Santa Cruz is a fairly small city and seems like just a college town during the off season. People live around the area but I can't imagine that they would hate the college kids :/</p>
<p>There was more friction in the past. The city of Santa Cruz before UCSC was largely populated by an older more conservative contingent who resented the younger more liberal demographic that the college brought in. It is understandable, the college brought growth and many original towns people liked the small beach town feel. It brought students who represented the kinds of changes that may have been perceived to be threatening to their way of life.</p>
<p>Over the years as more former students have settled in the area and it has become more diverse there has been a shift. The town has become more liberal, the campus less exclusively liberal. Many of the homeowners in Santa Cruz now have ties to campus in some way. All of this has contributed to a strengthening of the town/gown relationship.</p>
<p>Yes and No. There are some points that the campus and city definitely argue about on a regular basis (housing, water usage, traffic, etc) but the "townies" realize that the students are a major part of the economic system now. Realistically, the town couldn't substantiate itself without students and tourists.</p>
<p>So, basically, city council dislikes the administration, but no one really hates the studetns.</p>
<p>Ok well that's good. I'm glad to hear it isn't as bad as I thought. Thanks.</p>
<p>hahaha
i totally didnt know that.
i think alot of campuses/towns are like that.
in malibu all the residents dislike the pepperdine-ians.</p>
<p>I mean, thusfar I've just done summer session, but I chilled downtown plenty and everyone seemed great. And don't be scared of the hippie homeless street preformers, they're all stoned and happy.</p>
<p>lol. yeah everytime i visit everyone is super chill.</p>
<p>I've never really experienced it as a problem, but there are shady people in this city and I sometimes feel they look down upon us (ironic, I know). Maybe thats merely just a feeling. The surf spots can get pretty territorial... a buddy of mine got into a fist-fight at a party with a "local" over something stupid like that... so while there isn't much tangible evidence of such a tension, I think it still exists some cases. ...but don't worry... students are EVERYWHERE here.</p>
<p>Yeah, surfers can get really territorial about their beaches their waves and the like. I think that it is the biggest are of conflict a student is likely to experience between town and gown. So if you surf make sure you obey surf etiquette, don't ask me what it is but I know it exists.</p>