The Problem: A College Built for Community... Without Community Space

UC San Diego's Eighth College was founded on the theme "Engagement & Community," but we're the only college at UCSD without a dining hall, coffee shop, or dedicated social space where students can naturally gather, study, and build relationships. The Disparity between Eighth College and other colleges at UCSD represents a fundamental issue in equity, thus undermining the university’s commitment to providing equal educational experiences across its college system. While every other college has developed vibrant community infrastructure over decades, Eighth College Students are systematically denied the same opportunities for organic community building and social connection. 

What We're Missing
Every other college has vibrant community spaces:

• Revelle has 64 Degrees dining hall and study space
• Muir has MOM's cafe with open mic nights
• Marshall has Angela's lounge with programming
• Warren has a 24-hour community lounge
• ERC has the Cafe Ventanas dining hall
• Sixth has restaurants and social lounges
• Seventh has a bistro and big game room

Eighth College has: Nothing. No dining hall. No coffee shop. No social lounge. We currently only have small recreational centers, which do not promote the idea of community or belonging as they are tiny, underfunded, and lacks structured programming.

Why This Matters
"Third spaces" are informal gathering places beyond home and school. They are essential for:

• Mental health and reducing isolation (44% of college students report depression symptoms)
• Academic success through study groups and peer support
• Building the connections that help students thrive
• Creating inclusive communities for all students

The Impact on Students

Our isolation creates real barriers:

• 15-20 minute walks to basic campus resources like dining and libraries
• Safety concerns walking alone at night, especially for women
• Accessibility issues for students with mobility challenges or chronic conditions
• Schedule conflicts - students can't afford 40+ minutes of travel time to central campus community resources between classes

Meanwhile, our existing spaces serve external visitors over students - the elevators in Survivance are restricted for conference guests while students with disabilities are forced to use stairs, and prime real estate is given to an upscale restaurant for theater patrons instead of creating spaces for affordable student dining.

What We're Asking UCSD/ Eighth Admin to do:
Immediate Actions:

1. Acknowledge this disparity exists
2. Survey existing spaces that could be enhanced for student use

Short-term Actions:

3.Designate dedicated student community space within Eighth College
4.Provide startup funding for basic improvements
5.Prioritize student needs over external events

Long-term Actions:

6.Include community space operations in regular college budgets
7.Plan for growth as enrollment increases

Why Sign?
Every student at UCSD deserves equal access to community-building resources. Students at Eighth College pay the same fees but get an inferior experience compared to students from other colleges at UCSD. Every student at UCSD deserves equal access to community-building resources, regardless of which college they belong to. The current system creates an experience where some students benefit from decades of community involvement and investment, while others are left to navigate college life in isolation, without ever being given the opportunity to naturally build relationships, especially as Eighth college currently lacks any amenities that would draw students to linger and interact with one another.

This isn't just about convenience - it's about equity, mental health, and giving students the community connections they need to succeed.