As UC Santa Cruz students gear up for the annual 4/20 gathering at Porter Meadow, the campus’ once-legendary status as a stoner paradise is fading. Cannabis legalization, Gen Z’s changing social habits and the university’s growing focus on STEM and research have reshaped the school’s identity. Keith A. Spencer explains why UCSC’s stoner identity seems to have gone up in smoke.
Keith A. Spencer
Keith A. Spencer is a freelance writer and a graduate student in the literature department at UC Santa Cruz. Previously an editor at Salon.com, he writes often about the tech industry, science, culture and politics.
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Adrian Gonzalez grilled about pornography, prison friends and intent in rape and murder of Madyson Middleton
Adrian Gonzalez, convicted in the 2015 rape and murder of 8-year-old neighbor Madyson Middleton, was grilled on the stand most of the day Monday by a Santa Cruz County prosecutor clearly intent on trying to show that Gonzalez is not fit for release.
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Lengyel murder trial ends with fiery barbs between defense, prosecutors
The murder trial of Theobald Lengyel ended on Wednesday, with jurors now deliberating whether the former musician is guilty of first-degree murder or a lesser charge in the death of his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alix” Herrmann. The defense argued that Lengyel was provoked, while prosecutors alleged premeditation.
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As Theo Lengyel murder trial enters third week, witnesses recall an explosive personality who refused help
In the first two weeks of the murder trial in the death of Capitola’s Alice “Alix” Herrmann, prosecutors have called a parade of character witnesses who have described defendant Theo Lengyel as a combative person prone to alcohol-fueled rages. Lengyel’s defense has aimed to undermine the credibility of these accounts and has argued that Herrmann’s death was not first-degree murder.
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Cross-examination of ex-wife complicates prosecutors’ narrative in Theo Lengyel murder trial
The testimony of Theo Lengyel’s ex-wife, Joleen “Jody” Welch, in his murder trial for the death of Alice Herrmann undermined prosecutors’ portrayal of him as a consistently abusive, controlling alcoholic.
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Ex-wife alleges pattern of abuse in Theo Lengyel murder trial
The ex-wife of Theo Lengyel, accused of killing girlfriend and Capitola resident Alice Herrmann in December 2023, told jurors in his murder trial on Tuesday that he was controlling and violent over the course of their 17-year marriage.
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Alice Herrmann’s diary, neighbor offer troubled look at Theo Lengyel as murder trial enters second week
As the murder trial of Theo Lengyel, accused of killing his partner, Capitola’s Alice Herrmann, enters its second week, prosectors shared entries from Herrmann’s diary and testimony from Lengyel’s neighbor about his erratic behavior as they work to paint Lengyel as someone who struggled with alcohol and anger issues.
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Family of Alice Herrmann sheds light on relationship with boyfriend Theo Lengyel in second day of murder trial
In Thursday’s second day of Theo Lengyel’s murder trial, Santa Cruz prosecutors asked witnesses to recall any emotional, argumentative, violent or abusive moments between Lengyel, 55, and Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, 61. Most of Herrmann’s brothers’ recollections were neutral, and both said that only in retrospect did certain interactions they witnessed seem off. Neither brother, nor a neighbor of Herrmann’s in Capitola, recalled witnessing violence between the two.
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Murder trial begins for former Mr. Bungle musician Theo Lengyel in death of Capitola’s Alyx Herrmann
On the first day of Theo Lengyel’s jury trial, prosecutors painted defendant Lengyel as an alcoholic with anger problems and a history of abusive behavior. Lengyel’s defense attorney did not dispute that he killed his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, but disputed the characterization of Lengyel as a violent man and argued that Herrmann’s death was not murder.
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Murder trial set for Theo Lengyel after two days of harrowing testimony in Alyx Herrmann case
A Santa Cruz court heard testimony this week from law enforcement officials who investigated the December disappearance of Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, with detectives from the East Bay and Capitola describing their interactions with Theobald “Theo” Lengyel, her former boyfriend who will now stand trial on charges of murder, burglary and auto theft.