The way to save Deltopia? Keep it local
Out of towners don’t have any respect for IV
Who can complain when this is right on campus?
We all know what goes down during Deltopia, whether you’re a UCSB student or not. Out-of-towners come from hundreds of different cities just to celebrate Spring in Isla Vista. Originating as “Floatopia” in 2003, this party has definitely put up a fight to remain in existence.
Once Floatopia picked up speed around 2009, hosting more than 10,000 people, Cal Poly SLO even wanted to join in on the action, creating their own party by the sea. Unfortunately for them, it was quickly protested and cancelled by their surrounding community due to the expected disturbances and violence that has perpetuated throughout the many years of Deltopia. While it was rather quick and easy to shut it down in SLO, what can we expect in the years following the 2014 riots here in IV?
Streets of DP
The riots of 2014, between the crowd in Isla Vista and the police officers patrolling the situation, has caused a huge problem for many years to come. Sending 44 individuals to the hospital from alcohol poisoning, stab wounds, and other injuries, it’s in the school’s best interest to create a safer environment. This year, while there are no cops on horses, (yay, no horse crap), beach access will be closed off the first weekend back from Spring Break.
It seems that the real issue isn’t the fact that IV gathers together to party, but instead, it’s the fact that it is so incredibly publicized. As we can see, DP especially, has something going on every weekend. But what makes any other weekend different than Deltopia weekend? Social media. As the saying goes, “If you post about it, they will come”. The hype surrounding specific celebrations, like Halloween and Deltopia, attracts crowds from all over the place, many of which don’t have the decency and respect we have (or should have) for Isla Vista and our community.
Found somewhere in IV
I don’t see the school backing down. Our safety is much too important, as it should be. Despite the expenses of hiring extra police force, it definitely beats the uproar and tragedies previously seen within IV. Our last option to saving the future of Deltopia, is to simply keep it local.