UCSB is an amazing school filled with beautiful people and bright young minds. This liberal campus welcomes a diverse group of students and promotes individual growth through numerous organizations, an astounding staff of professors and countless academic programs. I know you are waiting for the “but," and here it comes ... BUT, the environment surrounding UCSB is what I like to call a “dysfunctional utopia." For one, I appreciate an original oxymoron, but in a weird way, this describes what we all know as Isla Vista.

The most permanent occupants of this community are the charismatic homeless, and I can see why they don't want to leave. Perfect weather year-round, the public beaches, multiple parks each with their own personality and charming beach houses comprise the little under two square miles of this college town. Most residents call this place home for only four years, but this place will mark you for life, if it hasn't already.

I was at the post office Monday conversing with the man behind me in line who was, I'd say, in his mid-sixties. I mentioned I went to UCSB, and his eyes opened wide, and he smiled, for he was a Gaucho too. Then he said, “I went to UCSB, well, a long time ago. Let's see, I lived on the 66 block of DP, oceanside." He didn't say the 6600 block of Del Playa Drive, but DP. This man attended UCSB over 40 years ago and is living proof the same vernacular is also one of the few permanent residents of IV

So, there's the utopia part ... you know the "but" is coming once again.

The dysfunction lies in the lifestyle this community promotes. Unless you are a starfish named Patrick, you won't be shocked to hear UCSB is notorious for its party school reputation with Halloween and Deltopia being the two major celebrations. In the past four years, I have witnessed first-hand the strides UCSB has made to diminish this reputation. Although UCSB does not promote these events, they do host events such as Extravaganza—a huge concert held in Harder Stadium that allows only UCSB students admission. And this past weekend, UCSB held events on-campus during Deltopia to promote a safer environment for students to celebrate the beginning of spring quarter considering last year's celebration turned into a riot with the SWAT team coming in hot!

I do commend the efforts made my the UCSB administration, but let's face it, these efforts look better on paper. For the past three years, Extravaganza was filled with drunken idiots and kids trippin' while listening to huge headliners such as Diplo, Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg. Really, UCSB—a raver, a thug and pothead? Perhaps UCSB just wanted to get in on the fun.

I just want to state that I love this school and will cherish many fond memories as long as I can keep them, but UCSB isn't the school I joined as an incoming freshman. Between fall of 2011 and now, so many things have changed. Three fraternity chapters have been kicked off campus. The library has been under construction along with the entire campus. I did not see one green fence for the first two years I was here. The biggest dorm, FT (Francisco Torres), was renamed Santa Catalina. Speaking of dorms, many doubles existed before they decided UCSB students were sardines. So many apartments and dining establishments have taken over the heart of IV.

Before 2014, Halloween and Deltopia were crazy but in the good, fun way and cops were seen as the buzz-kill. But now I can sleep better at night knowing they are here for our protection. However, the police department has resorted to finding loopholes in the laws to over-regulate parties, but I get it though. Last school year, tragedy struck Isla Vista as if Shakespeare himself wrote it. Multiple violent rapes were reported, a riot broke out and many were injured, but worst of all a school shooting took the lives of six UCSB students. The collateral damages of these incidents were physically manifested on the streets of IV, but the unity experienced by the UCSB community was powerful. Arrest rates of UCSB students have dramatically dropped in the past year meaning a smaller social scene, but for the better. The sun is still shinning, Snappa rates are at a record high and the bike paths are jam-packed and still quite dangerous.

I was able to live on Oceanside DP my senior year, grabbing pints at PMH with my friends and living in denial that I will soon be graduating from UCSB with a BS and the liver of a 55-year-old. But Isla Vista will always be the misunderstood paradise, the dysfunctional utopia I have been lucky enough to call home.