Teresa Watanabe, Author at Lookout Santa Cruz

Collage of rallies and vigils on California college campuses

Grief, anger, fear on college campuses as Israel-Hamas war divide comes home

by Teresa Watanabe, Priscella Vega, Debbie Truong and Jenny Gold October 16, 2023December 17, 2023

College campuses are supposed to be bastions of intellectual discourse and debate, but the war in Gaza underscores tense narratives and little if any interchange between students.

Signage and people along Bruin Walk East, near Bruin Plaza, on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles

Education

How small is too small? UC Regents delay approval of new UCLA dorm, questioning room size

by Teresa Watanabe September 22, 2023December 17, 2023

UCLA is planning a student housing project offering most rooms for just $600 a month — but just 265 square feet for three students. The University of California regents question if that’s too small and have delayed approval.

Students walk on the UC Santa Cruz campus between classes.

Education

UCSC acceptance rises by 44.5% as UC admits record number of California first-year students for fall 2023

by Teresa Watanabe August 8, 2023December 17, 2023

The University of California system admitted a record number of California first-year students for fall 2023, led by Latinos and an increase in Native Americans who helped make up the largest ever group of underrepresented students offered admission. UC Santa Cruz accepted 10,000 more first-year students than in 2022, a 44.5% increase, and expects to enroll more than 4,000 this fall and winter.

Clarissa Garcia works on a problem during a geometry class at Compton Early College High School.

K-12 Education

California’s math overhaul aims to help struggling students. But will it hurt whiz kids?

by Howard Blume and Teresa Watanabe July 12, 2023

Supporters say proposed state K-12 framework will make higher-level math accessible to more. Critics contend it will make poor math outcomes worse.

Education

UC Berkeley spreads the gospel of data science with new college, free curriculum

by Teresa Watanabe May 18, 2023December 17, 2023

UC Berkeley is spreading the gospel of data science, a high-demand, high-earning field that can advance social justice, with a proposed new college and free curriculum to schools.

Students Emily Gramajo (left) and Jonathan Cornejo talk at West Adams Preparatory High School in Los Angeles.

Education

Priced out of a UC dream school, he’s choosing community college instead. He isn’t alone

by Teresa Watanabe April 25, 2023December 17, 2023

A growing share of low-income students admitted to the renowned University of California system are choosing community college instead as skyrocketing housing costs and insufficient financial aid put their dream campuses out of reach.

The strikers' picket line forced detours at the campus entrance at High Street and Bay Drive.

Education

To afford historic labor contract, UC considers cutting TAs, graduate student admissions

by Teresa Watanabe January 27, 2023December 17, 2023

After the UC and academic workers celebrated wage gains in new labor contracts, campuses scramble to pay for them, with potential cuts in new graduate students looming.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in Capitola Village on Tuesday.

Newsom budget includes naloxone for middle and high schools while largely avoiding cuts

by Howard Blume, Debbie Truong and Teresa Watanabe January 11, 2023May 3, 2024

Newsom’s education spending plan includes the opioid antagonist naloxone for all middle and high schools while largely avoiding cuts to school budgets.

The strikers' picket line at the campus entrance at High Street and Bay Drive.

After five-week strike, UC and graduate student workers reach tentative agreement

by Teresa Watanabe December 16, 2022

The tentative agreement would give graduate student teaching assistants, tutors, researchers and other members of two United Auto Workers bargaining units an increase in minimum pay to about $34,000 from the current $24,000. The unions had demanded doubling their pay to $54,000 — but union leadership agreed to take the offer to their members for ratification.