The UCSB campus rivals Yosemite as a popular camping destination, so it’s a great loss that the Office of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs just issued a statement prohibiting camping on university property. It’s sad to think that future generations of UCSB students will never observe the Lost Freshman in its natural habitat, or wash themselves in the fountain outside the art museum.

The university claims this ban is meant to eliminate camping by the local transient population, completely ignoring that fact that transients are a natural part of the UCSB ecosystem that help maintain the delicate balance of life: without them, we would all have way too much loose change in our pockets.

The ban similarly eliminates the “tent cities” set up by student activists, who are also a vital part of the campus ecosystem. Whenever they try to talk to us, we say we “have class right now, sorry!” and run off as soon as possible. Arguably, without these tent cities, no student will ever be on time for class, and academics and the reputation of the school itself will plummet. Do you really want that on your shoulders, Vice Chancellor?