Transportation Update: Both campus entrances open, vehicles traveling through each

UC Santa Cruz has prepared this page in an effort to keep members of the campus community informed about transportation and other aspects of the operation impacted by a March 4 protest on campus occurring as part of a statewide effort to call attention to reductions in state support for public education.

Campus status:

Friday, March 5

6 a.m.

Access: Both entrances to the campus are open and vehicles are traveling through each.

Transportation: Metro buses and the campus shuttles and buses are operating on their regular schedules and routes.

Dining services on campus: Dining halls at Colleges Eight/Oakes and Colleges Nine/Ten will be open from 7:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 5. Cowell/Stevenson will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Crown/Merrill will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Terra Fresca will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Coffee Bar will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. No other food-service retail locations will be open today. Dining and food services will return to regular hours of operation on Saturday.

Childcare services on campus: The centers at Family Student Housing are reopening this morning, per their normal schedule.

Thank you very much for your patience on Thursday.

Thursday, March 4

7 p.m. Please check back for information on the campus's planned return to service on Friday.

4:45 p.m. Protestors are no longer present at the west entrance to campus, and it is open to vehicles. Protesters continue to gather at the main entrance. Those coming to or leaving the campus are therefore encouraged to use the west entrance.

Noon Due to continuing access issues at both entrances, employees are advised not to come to the main campus for the duration of the day. Continue to check this website for more information.

11 a.m. Photos from this morning's events on campus.

9:30 a.m. Campus Provost David Kliger writes a message to the campus community about disruptive, intimidating, and destructive behavior during this morning's protest, and calls for it to cease, saying it "does nothing to aid efforts to restore funding to the university."

8 a.m. Due to potential safety concerns, people, including any employee scheduled for work, are advised not to come to the main campus. Campus emergency personnel have just transmitted a CruzAlert message to all UCSC students, staff, and faculty. Updated information will continue to be posted on this web site, so please check back regularly. Thank you.

Please check this site at noon for an update on the work status for all campus employees for the remainder of the day.

7:45 a.m. Due to potential safety concerns, people, including any employee scheduled for work, are advised not to come to the main campus. Check back for updated conditions.

7 a.m. SAFETY UPDATE: There is a report of a vehicle windshield smashed in the vicinity of Hagar and Coolidge Dr. Another UCSC staff member attempting to enter a campus entrance reported that protesters took photographs of the employee's vehicle and license plate, in an intimidating manner. There is also a report of a vehicle being denied the right to exit faculty/staff housing onto Coolidge Rd.

Due to potential safety concerns, people, including any employee scheduled for work, are advised not to come to the main campus. Check back for updated conditions.

6:30 a.m. No change since 6 a.m. report, below. UCSC's Office of Public Affairs has transmitted a status email message to students, staff, and faculty. Updates will continue to be posted on this web site.

6 a.m. Campus police have begun turning away cars at the main entrance, as about 60 protesters are gathered uphill at the intersection of Coolidge and Hagar. About 50 protesters are gathered at west entrance, effectively closing that entrance. There is currently no campus shuttle service available. If you are driving near the campus, please do so carefully. Please check back regularly.

5:45 a.m. The main entrance is open but about 60 protesters are gathered uphill at the intersection of Coolidge and Hagar. About 50 protesters are gathered at west entrance, effectively closing that entrance. If you are driving near the campus, please do so carefully. Please check back regularly.

5:15 a.m. Both campus entrances are currently open, though small numbers of people are walking in the vicinity of each. If you are driving near or through either entrance, please do so carefully. Please check back regularly.

Advocacy information from UC's Office of the President:

Rallies, marches and lobbying efforts in Sacramento are planned in March and April. More details will be posted on the UCforCalifornia web site, or you can check the Associated Students UC and the UC Student Association Web sites for more information.

Information from UCSC's administration:

In a message to the UCSC community, Chancellor Blumenthal and Campus Provost Kliger describe March 1 student advocacy efforts in Sacramento and ask that members of the campus community express themselves on March 4 in a manner that respects the rights of students, faculty, and staff who have classroom and work responsibilities they must honor that day. (February 26, 2010)

In support of the message from Chancellor Blumenthal and Campus Provost Kliger (above), Academic Personnel and Staff HR provide guidance to managers and supervisors about March 4.