February Issue
- The Scuttle Team
- 2 days ago
- 18 min read
Editors Note
Welcome Seahawks, to the new year! While most rested and enjoyed the holidays with family and friends, Cabrillo and its constituents have been busy preparing for the spring semester. The Scuttle is happy to announce two new Columnists to the team, Lizzy Sterling and Rocco Arnott. Look out for fun columns, sharing the best nature spots, benches, hikes, and more, stretching from Davenport to Watsonville in Whereabouts… as well as an inside look at the local Santa Cruz and Cabrillo music scene, in The Scene.
The Scuttle isn’t the only group with new members. The College warmly welcomes Dr. Jenn Capps as Cabrillo’s new Superintendent and President; as well as Francisco “Paco” Estrada as the new Trustee for Area V on the Governing Board of Cabrillo. Read more about Paco's appointment below.
As we enter February and Black History Month, I want to bring attention to our Equity programs Umoja and M.O.C.H.A., which aim to support minority students and their success. In this issue, read about how these programs are rooting themselves in student life and are here to stay!
As these programs expand, with integrity at the forefront of our minds, the College continues to reexamine its institutionalized biases; read Isabella’s article on the Native American Studies & Student Support Committee’s initiative to rework Cabrillo’s Land Acknowledgment, to better represent the indigenous groups that previously and currently occupy the Santa Cruz Area.
I’m looking forward to another eventful and informative semester here at Cabrillo. If you would like to get involved with The Scuttle, please reach out to isblevin@cabrillo.edu or jofahey@cabrillo.edu or submit a piece of art or writing to our Student Submission Form.
-Josephine Fahey
Events and Announcements
Cabrillo Escucha
Students are invited to join Dr. Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah, the Vice President of Student Services, for an opportunity to connect and share stories and suggestions. These listening sessions will be held on the Aptos campus in the Multicultural Student Center on the first Tuesday of each month from 1-2pm. She will hold sessions at the Watsonville Center on the first Wednesday of each month at the same time. See flyer for more info.
Club Rush
Join the Student Senate and Cabrillo Clubs for games, music, food, and prizes. Explore the many Clubs Cabrillo has to offer and get involved with student life!
Aptos - Monday 9th from 9:30-2:30pm in the Vic Plaza
Watsonville - Wednesday the 11th 10:30-3:30pm in the Breezeway
Latino Role Models Conference
A free annual event for Santa Cruz County students grades 6 to college and their families, featuring Latino professionals, college students, and resource information. Presented in Spanish and English translation. Attendees eligible for prizes. No Registration Required to Attend. The event will be February 21, 2026 from 9:00am - 1:00 pm at the Cabrillo College Crocker Theater.
Letters of Love
Celebrate Valentine's Day with Umoja! Presenting an afternoon of arts and crafts, music, and sweet treats in room 355 on Feb 12th from 1:30-3:30pm.
Alzheimer's and Brain Health Event
Student Health Services is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association for a tabling event focused on brain health on February 26th. The event will be from 11am-1pm in the quad on the Aptos campus. Stop by to learn about ways to support cognitive well-being, explore tips for keeping your brain healthy at every age, and connect with helpful resources.
Spring 2026 Fresh Markets
Save the date for the Spring 2026 Fresh Markets! Free food for ALL Cabrillo students.
You can also receive assistance with completing CalFresh applications during Fresh Markets. Bring your own grocery bag! Additionally, sign up to volunteer at a Fresh Market!
Aptos Fresh Markets
Aptos Library Plaza
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Monday, February 9
Monday, February 23
Watsonville Fresh Markets
Watsonville NEST (Classroom A140)
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 25
Cabrillo College Governing Board of Trustees Area V Position Filled
On December 1st, 2025, Francisco “Paco” Estrada was appointed as Cabrillo College’s Governing Board Area V Trustee, after the passing of former Trustee, Manuel Bersamin.
The former Watsonville Mayor, 42, was voted in, 4-2, running against Jenni Veitch-Olson, 46, a Watsonville community leader and fundraiser.
During public comments, community members voiced their support for both candidates.
“Estrada is an incredible leader and understands and represents the community well,” said a community member.
Another described both candidates as “two incredible community champions, whose positionalities and professional experiences are unmatched.”
During his interview, Watsonville native Estrada emphasized his upbringing and commitment to making “people believe in public education and higher education again.”
“My approach to public service has always been one rooted in listening, thoughtful and respectful consideration, and with the aim to serve all sectors of an institution to the best of my abilities."
Estrada is the son of migrant farm workers, who pushed him to value his education at PVUSD schools. He completed undergraduate studies at UC Santa Cruz and a graduate program at San Jose State University, both in Modern History. His devotion to education continued as he went on to work for the County Office of Education and teach at Hartnell Community College as an adjunct history instructor.
Estrada served on the Watsonville City Council as Mayor from 2018-2022, and currently works as an analyst for the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz. He also voluntarily serves several local boards, such as Landmark Elementary School Site Council, City of Watsonville Parks & Community Services Commission, and Friends of Watsonville Parks & Community Services, among others.
During the discussion, board members took turns emphasizing the difficulty of choosing between the two candidates.
Board Chair Donna Zeil said, “[Estrada’s] experience with being able to connect with the students and the families in the district, as well as the larger community, bodes well.”
Spickler said, “I think there is a particular skill set that Jenni has, that is bringing people together… that I think the college would benefit from tremendously.”
“This is an incredibly difficult decision. Both candidates, I think, are wonderful. I’d like to vote for both of you, but we have to make a tough choice,” said Dan Rothwell.
The filling of this position was essential to the presidential search. The board agreed that to ensure all of the Cabrillo community was represented, the Area V Trustee position must be filled.
“It is important that the constituents of Area V be well represented at this important juncture,” says Estrada.
Ken Wagman, Christian Cuevas, Dan Rothwel, and Steve Trujillo voted in favor of the appointment of Francisco Estrada. Adam Spickler and Donna Ziel voted against, while Grace Goodhue abstained.
In his closing statement, Estrada thanked the Board for the opportunity and the community members for their support.
He said, “I wish I didn’t have to be here today. I wish Manuel was still standing here…”
In a later interview, Estrada explains his choice to serve on the Board. “Understanding the tradeoffs and sacrifices associated with serving, I had no intention of doing so during this phase of my life… After receiving the green light from my family, I decided to submit my candidacy for the position and was honored to have been selected.”
Estrada emphasizes how he wishes to honor his predecessor's legacy as a Board Member.
Serving as Area V Trustee, Estrada aims to help increase success and persistence among Watsonville residents at Cabrillo.
“I want to understand the barriers keeping people in Watsonville from accessing or succeeding at Cabrillo College and learning how to remove them.”
Importantly, Estrada leads with the intention to listen to his constituents and “works in good faith and for the mutual benefit of all.
-Josephine Fahey
Native American Studies & Student Support Committee calls for new college land acknowledgment
If you’ve been to any Cabrillo College event, you’ve likely heard Cabrillo’s official land acknowledgement. It goes like this:
"The land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. Today there are no known survivors of the Awaswas Nation. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands to honor the Awaswas and heal from historical trauma."
On January 22, the Native American Studies & Support Committee (NASSSC) held a meeting–the first of more to come–at the Horticulture Building to discuss how the college should revise its current land acknowledgement.
“We want to figure out how we can develop a land acknowledgment that is true to the past, the present, and the future–not only of indigenous people but on the land that we’re here on,” said Leah Resendez, a committee member and Cabrillo’s Dual Enrollment Coordinator.
The committee, which was started almost two years ago, is made up of Cabrillo faculty, students, alumni, and community members. Two of their main areas of focus are promoting Native American studies at Cabrillo and strengthening relationships with the native community.
According to NASSSC member Micaela Johnson, the group aims to address a few different aspects of the current land acknowledgement. As it is now, the acknowledgement recognizes individual tribes. Alternatively, it could instead recognize the languages spoken by the indigenous groups in these regions. Johnson said another thing to consider is whether the college should have different land acknowledgements for all of the regions it occupies, or an overarching acknowledgement that accounts for all of the geographic area covered by the college.
The land acknowledgement Cabrillo uses today was written during the 2020-2021 academic year and involved a consultation with leadership from the Amah Mutsun tribal band.
The NASSSC website does not use the same land acknowledgement as the college, stating that it is being “thoughtfully reworked to ensure we properly honor the ancestors and stewards of these lands.” The organization offers an alternative, placeholder statement that reads:
“In the meantime, we pause to reflect on the land itself: its peoples, animals, waters, and native plants that have been here since time immemorial. We consider the knowledge and care carried by the first peoples, passed down through generations, and we commit ourselves to learning, evolving, and changing our ways to honor those who came before us and continue to guide us today.”
Through conversations with members of NASSSC and members of the wider community, they are hoping to draft a new land acknowledgement that is more inclusive and comprehensive.
The group who attended this first discussion had some preliminary ideas and suggestions about what a land acknowledgement should include. Multiple people expressed that it should contain some sort of call to action.
“A land acknowledgement should be action right there and right then,” said Edgar Ibarra, a Cabrillo alumni. He continued, “As an educational institution, there’s an opportunity to help educate folks about the language that was spoken here.”
K. Groppi, Natural and Applied Sciences Faculty Senator, said, “Our land acknowledgment should inspire people to make their own commitments.”
Last year, the student editorial board for the 2025 edition of Cabrillo’s Journal X put together their own version of a revised land acknowledgement. It reads:
“Waqaa, Quyana tailuci! First, before anything, we must honor and respect the rightful owners of the land we’re gathered on: the Uypi Tribe and Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. It is estimated that the Uypi tribe lived within the Santa Cruz Mountains for 12,000 years. Their land was stolen during the era of Missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista, from which they have endured a literal and cultural genocide. Some say they aren’t around anymore, while others say we should remember them. And yes, we should because they are still here, they are proud, they are ALIVE, and we should honor that. They are fighting to regain sovereignty and restore stewardship of the land, to shed light on old practices, so a new generation can learn of their history and the origins of the land we stand on. We must also recognize and name their efforts in preserving a significant cultural site, Juristac, which is being threatened by those that wish to build a gravel mine. Donating and signing the petition at their website protectjuristac.org can be ways to give back to this indigenous community. We also mourn and seek to atone for the trauma of those who did not survive and the members that have. Let’s give a moment of prayer to creator and silence to respect those who have not survived the genocide and violence.”
At their next meeting, the committee will look at land acknowledgments from UCSC and CSUMB. Next steps include reaching out to the board of trustees and the new college president about changing the acknowledgement. The committee will continue to consult students, faculty and staff, and community members throughout the process.
“We always like and appreciate student participation as per a well known tribal saying, ‘We do not inherit our lands from our ancestors, but we borrow it from our children,’" Johnson said.
For more information, refer to the NASSSC website.
-Isabella Blevins
Umoja Goes to Ghana
If you didn’t know, Umoja is a California-wide program and learning community dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African American, African, and members of the pan-African diasporas. Umoja promotes the holistic wellness of its scholars through the integration of culturally sensitive course materials, personalized academic counseling, specialized curriculum and pedagogy, and intentional practices that focus on identity and belonging.
Umoja started as a club at Cabrillo in 2021, and was officially affiliated in 2023. Before Umoja, the participation of identity clubs and groups fluctuated due to changing enrollment rates of interested students. But with collaboration from students, staff, and the Cabrillo College Foundation, Umoja is here to stay.
Cabrillo College has less than 1% of African and African American identified students and employees. In CCEAL’s 2018 report, African American students said they didn’t feel a sense of belonging at Cabrillo and suggested it was due to “a lack of cultural competence among faculty, staff, and students.” The same report said, “African American students experience Cabrillo College as a hostile and unwelcoming environment.”
Programs like Umoja help eliminate those struggles and are statistically proven to increase student success and retention rates. Umoja’s goal is to recognise students and their identities.
Student Life Director, Alta Cilicia Northcutt says, “[Blackness] is our gift that we have to Cabrillo… how we identify as people on this campus.”
The program has already made substantial progress in expansion efforts. Currently, Umoja is working on curriculum articulation and professional development through Umoja Faculty Conferences. Namely, Communications, English, History, and Music courses have already seen integration of culturally conscious curriculum.
Northcutt says, “I want everybody on this campus, at one point in their life, to have an Umoja experience.”
A major success for Umoja was their summer excursion to Ghana. During June of 2025, Cabrillo sponsored a 9 day excursion to Ghana for 10 Umoja students and staff. Attendees expressed their enthusiasm and the emotional significance of the trip.
A highlight of the trip was the Ghanaian Ancestral Walk, a trail that is known for its emotional and cultural significance. At this historical site, descendants of enslaved Africans retrace the steps of their ancestors as a ritualistic homecoming.
“This is the most significant part for me…having the opportunity to reconcile with history,” says Northcutt.
Ariba Alston-Williams said, “This trip has been an absolutely amazing and informative.”
Study abroad opportunities, specifically among students of color, are formative experiences that have a number of academic benefits. Intercultural competence, identity development, improved career outcomes, and even heightened retention and graduation rates are advantages of educational trips.
Jasmine Northcutt says, “Being over there let me feel empowered, and coming back reminded me that I don't want to stay insignificant.”
To learn more or to become an Umoja scholar, visit their Cabrillo webpage. Watch the Trip Highlight video here.
Men helping men: Cabrillo’s answer to male college students’ underperformance
Established in fall of 2024, Men of Character and High Achievement–often referred to by its acronym, MOCHA–works to provide support and community to Cabrillo College's male students.
Devin Walker, the college’s Equity and Student Success Director, launched the program in the wake of a staggering nationwide trend showing that male college students have been falling behind their female counterparts.
“This program was built out of looking at some of the survey data around what men were experiencing on campus and what they needed…A sense of belonging amongst men of color was really low,” Walker said.
Before joining Cabrillo in August of 2023, Walker worked as Director of Global Leadership and Social Impact at The University of Texas at Austin, where he led the African American Male Research Initiative.
Although MOCHA is open to all male students, there is a heightened demand among male students of color for resources and a greater sense of community.
Walker pointed to the “hidden curriculum” as being the idea that some students enter college with prior understanding of the codes and ways of being that is expected of college students, while others do not.
“It’s things that we share with everybody, but certain students are just a little bit better and more comfortable than others,” he said.
Walker explained that college is a great place to build skills, experiences, and networks and MOCHA aims to help male students feel comfortable and confident enough to seek out those opportunities.
One of the goals, according to Walker, is to help men “center themselves.” He said a large part of the male identity is built around the idea of being a provider for others and that misogyny has a negative effect on men, too. He emphasized the importance of vulnerability and connection between male students as a means of helping them open up about their feelings and struggles to work through them productively and compassionately.
“Mental health in the male community is not great…So many men carry these burdens in silence,” he said.
While the group got started over a year ago, Walker said that the 2025-2026 academic year has so far been the most consistent and successful with better turnouts at meetings. The average age of those who attend is nineteen or twenty. In addition to weekly meetings on campus, the group meets for activities outside of school hours, as well. Some of these have included hiking, yoga workshops, and healing sound baths.
Currently, MOCHA meets every Thursday in the Veterans Information Center building. Meetings are often led by Al Wolfram, a Marine Corps veteran and student at Cabrillo. Wolfram seeks to help male students navigate the uncertain stage between adolescence and manhood, encouraging them to develop strength and honor, especially so they are less likely to fall into destructive or detrimental lifestyles.
An important aspect of MOCHA leadership is its mentorship model. Walker is the overarching leadership figure, as he started the program and is the college’s equity director. Other program leaders are Ricardo Espinoza, Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, and JD Alvarez, the Veterans Program Coordinator. Wolfram provides mentorship on a student-to-student level.
Next steps for the program include improving outreach through tabling and other campus events and offering more off-campus activities for MOCHA students. Walker said they currently hold one off-campus event per semester and would like to do more in the future.
Wolfram underscored MOCHA’s importance by describing it as a space where male students can be provided with a “likelihood to succeed.”
“We want to create a culture of academic success,” Walker said.
–Isabella Blevins
Student Senate Advocates for 9+1 Rights and Non Resident Tuition Fees
With the increased instability of federal funding and current financial deficit, the Cabrillo Administration is pushing several new initiatives to increase revenue and subsidize the College's loss of resources. One of these initiatives is to raise Non Resident Tuition Fees.
In February of 2025, the Cabrillo Administration proposed an increase in fees by $41 per unit, per year to incoming Non Resident students, until they reach a cost of $450 per unit (with total fees being $582 per unit per semester). Administration stated that the increase will not only keep up with inflation and statewide averages but also provide the college with an additional $200,000 in revenue from Full Time Enrolled Students (FTE’s). This would be a change from $358 per unit (included in the total of $487 per unit) to $400 per unit (included in the total of $532 per unit) in one year.
The Associated Students of Cabrillo College contested that this motion, and instatement of fees, would be in violation of sections of Education Code 76140 and Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) 9+1 rights. During the Board of Trustees meeting on February 3rd, 2025, the motion to increase the Non Resident Tuition fees by 42$ was heavily contested, and thus moved to March 3rd to be voted on.
Leading up to the March 3rd Board Meeting, the ASCC worked to compile a list of evidence to convince the Board not let the motion carry. They gathered proof of illegality, student perspectives, and laid the groundwork for a tuition guarantee.
Ed Code 76140, that states, “Nonresident tuition fee increases shall be gradual, moderate, and predictable.” The Senate argued that raising fees by $41 dollars did not comply. Additionally, the Code says, “The nonresident tuition fee shall be set by the governing board of each community college district not later than March 1 of each year for the succeeding fiscal year.” With the Board meeting being on March 3rd, 2025, the board was unavoidably infringing the law.
In an interview, former Student Trustee Cody Jarvis explains his difficulty with working with the administration. “I said, in one of our last meetings with Administration, ‘Are you refusing to compromise with the students?’ And they go, ‘Yes.’ I go, ‘Okay, in that case, I’m going to agendize an emergency resolution to send to the statewide student senate to condemn the administration for refusing to work with students.’”
California Title V law states that students shall be provided an opportunity to participate in shared governance and the development of college policies and procedures. This is outlined in the SSCCC 9+1 student rights as #9: Student fees within the authority of the district to adopt.
The ASCC’s main goal was to represent international students, as the increase would significantly affect their cost of education. International students are restricted by the college to working on-campus jobs, which are capped at 20 hours a week. The Senate sent out a survey to international students asking how higher tuition fees would affect their education.
One student said, “I have used my personal savings throughout my academic journey at Cabrillo College, and I have no other types of financial support, so it has already been challenging. The increase of tuition would only bring about more challenges.”
Many students brought up the challenge of lower exchange rates in foreign countries.
“I am struggling to be able to afford the tuition as is. I don’t think I’d be able to continue attending Cabrillo if it went up,” said another.
With ample proof that raising Non Resident tuition fees would not be in the students' best interest, the Senate convinced the board that the motion should not carry. On March 3rd, the motion failed 2-5.
During the next month, the Senate developed a “ Tuition Guarantee: A fixed tuition fee schedule for each cohort, protecting from fluctuations during their course of study.” This guarantee included a promise to continuing students that would not raise their tuition, only for incoming students by 3% (12$) each year for five years to reach the goal of 450$.
The motion was carried unanimously on April 7th, and the plan is in its second year.
-Josephine Fahey
Whereabouts
In day-to-day life, many of us face an overwhelming amount of stress. Sources include work, school, parenting, relationships, politics, and more. Stress builds up over time and begins to affect our lives in negative ways. That is why it is important to find methods to reduce stress levels. Whereabouts is a new column in The Scuttle that highlights outdoor locations students can visit to ease the stress that arises in our lives. Whether it be hiking trails, park benches, walking paths, or even scenic staircases, Whereabouts will bring you the best “spots” in Santa Cruz County.
Hi there. My name is Rocco, and I am the columnist for Whereabouts. I am a second-year English student at Cabrillo College and am planning to pursue a career in public service as a teacher. When I am not at school, I spend a good amount of time outside, hiking, camping, and birding. I also enjoy reading and writing. I hope that my column, Whereabouts, will provide you with locations around Santa Cruz to explore and relax in. I plan to feature places all over the county, from Watsonville to Davenport and everywhere in between. I also plan to host a community hike each month (starting in March) that will take place at one of Whereabouts’ featured locations.
-Rocco Arnott
The Scene
Cabrillo College is home to a thriving community of musicians and music enthusiasts. Between the alternative shows, jazz events, and a variety of music venues, there is something here for everyone. The Scene is a new monthly column featured in The Scuttle, which will explore many different topics related to the music scene here at Cabrillo College. These topics will relate to music directly intertwined with our student culture, such as local shows, community music events, pressing issues, and so much more!
My name is Lizzy, and I have been a musician for most of my life. I spend the majority of my free time playing in bands. I love going to local shows and enjoying a variety of genres like post-punk, jazz, singer-songwriter, electronic, etc. My goal for this new column is to bring together our community of students with our shared love of music and uplift the voices of musicians here on campus. I am excited to bring my passion and knowledge of music to The Scene, and hopefully, in doing so, create an even stronger community of musicians and music enthusiasts here at Cabrillo.
-Lizzy Sterling
ASCC Report
In an effort to keep the student body informed and educated, The Scuttle and the Associated Students of Cabrillo College (ASCC) have initiated a collaboration that aims to strengthen the bond between students and the executive functions of Cabrillo College.
During the semester, ASCC Meetings are held open to the public, every Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm, in SAC Est 225 (Welcome Center) and in A150 Watsonville Center, every third Thursday of the Month.
While regular ASCC meetings are not held during Winter Break, the ASCC met on January 22nd for a closed session. During which, they finalized the updated ICC Handbook and coordinated new initiatives to help Club Officers understand and perform their duties within the ICC. In a similar vein, they decided on dates for ICC and Senate Events such as Club Rush and Spring Carnival. The ASCC also reviewed the ASCC Bylaws, checking for grammatical errors and outdated language. Vice President of Student Services Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah touched on advocacy for International Students and their 9+1 rights regarding increased student fees.
Additionally, the ASCC will be holding elections for all student senator roles this spring. The following positions will be available for students who wish to apply for candidacy: Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, Student Trustee, Treasurer, Legislative Representative, ICC Chair (not currently occupied), Watsonville Representative, ASCC Wellness Ambassador & Elections Chair (not currently occupied), Director of Public Relations, and three Senators-at-Large positions.
The dates for the student senate elections have not yet been determined, but students can check the ASCC webpage for more information.
Student Submissions
The Scuttle is devoted to uplifting student voices and creative pursuits. If you would like to have your art or writing publish please submit using the link below.
If you would like to be involved with The Scuttle, reach out to either jofahey@cabrillo.edu or isblevins@cabrillo.edu for more information.
Follow our Instagram to keep up with The Scuttle between issues!
@the_cabrillo_scuttle
Comments