Symbolically, a spate of horrible crimes at and around UC Santa Cruz is indeed disturbing. East coasters tend to idealize – and to some extent satirize – that laid-back, foresty, beachy campus, home of the Grateful Dead archive. But recent assaults on students, and – most recently and horribly – the murder of two police officers, has changed that.
In looking for reasons, UD finds evidence of drug markets (some seem to have been shut down).
**********************
The reported on-campus rape was a hoax. The woman made it up and may be prosecuted.