To view this email as a web page please click here. Gaucho Getaways Goes to Cuba - Visit Cuba with the UCSB Alumni Association! Explore the island of Cuba — a country of picturesque colonial towns and magnificent 20th-century architecture, a country of beautiful landscapes, and an intriguing Afro-Cuban culture. Both 8-night programs (February 12-20 and May 1-9; Havana and Trinidad) and 15-night programs (January 5-20 and May 3-18; Havana, Trinidad, Camaguey, Holguin, Baracoa, Santiago) unravel the richness of Cuban culture. These are OFAC Sanctioned programs. For itineraries and details, contact gaucho.getaways@ia.ucsb.edu President to Ease Student Loan Burden for Low-Income Graduates — President Obama announced new programs to lower monthly loan payments for some students graduating next year and thereafter and to let borrowers who have a mix of direct federal loans and loans under the old Federal Family Education Loan Program consolidate them at a slightly lower interest rate. UCSB Ranked No. 35 in World University Rankings — UC Santa Barbara has been ranked number 35 in a list of the world's top 200 universities by Times Higher Education, a British periodical. Among U.S. universities, UCSB is ranked number 24. The rankings include 13 separate performance indicators, across five categories: teaching, research, citation impact, industry income, and international mix. Dow Chemical Company Gives UCSB $15 Million Research Grant — The Dow Chemical Company has awarded UC Santa Barbara up to $15 million to establish a collaborative research initiative that will help shape the future of technology in areas that will benefit society. The Dow Materials Institute at UCSB will educate future scientists and engineers and advance the discovery of revolutionary new materials. Gaucho Alumni in Politics Visit UCSB — The UCSB Alumni Association presented a panel of alumni in government and politics for students considering careers in public service on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The panelists included Senator Sam Blakeslee ’89, Supervisor Janet Wolf ’76, Assembly member Das Williams ’05, and Supervisor Salud Carbajal ’90. Gauchos Snap Skid With Victory Over UC Davis — Senior defender Tim Pontius' two goals propelled No. 19 UC Santa Barbara to a 3-1 victory over visiting UC Davis on Oct. 26 at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium. With the victory, UCSB snapped a two-game losing skid and improved to 10-5-1 on the season and 3-4 in Big West play. Pimm and Alexander Next Legends of the ‘Dome — Former men's basketball coach Jerry Pimm and former women's basketball star Erin Alexander will have their banners added to the walls of the Thunderdome as Legends of the 'Dome in ceremonies during the 2011-12 basketball season.  Analysis: Who pays for college? During 2000s, cost burden shifted from states to families — It was a transformation that was, by historical standards, remarkably swift: The decade of the 2000s saw a fundamental shift in how Americans answer the question "Who will pay for college?" The bill at public universities is higher than ever, and students and their families are footing a greater share of it. Head of the Writing Program Visits White House — Linda Adler-Kassner, the director of the UCSB Writing Program and former president of the Council of Writing Program Administrators (CWPA), took a trip to the White House on Friday, October 7, to meet with officials from the Department of Education and discuss improvements that can be made in the teaching of writing skills throughout the public school system. UCSB Student-Founded Nonprofit Expands Statewide — Environmental Education for the Next Generation (EENG), a student-founded nonprofit organization that links college students with 1st and 2nd graders to teach about sustainability, has expanded beyond Santa Barbara with the launch of regional chapters in San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. Gauchos Schumaker and Young Played in the World Series - Two former Gauchos, Skip Schumaker, with the winning Cardinals, and Michael Young, with the Texas Rangers, went head-to-head for seven games in one of the most exciting World Series in recent history. For Young, it was his second-straight appearance in the Fall Classic with the Texas Rangers. UCSB Lacrosse Alumni Weekend — Nov. 11-13. All games will be held at the UCSB Lacrosse Field (aka The Pit). For event schedules, men’s alumni should go to www.ucsblax.com or e-mail mlax@essr.ucsb.edu, and women’s alumni should go to http://laxteams.net/ucsbwlax/form.html?form=150 or e-mail wlax@essr.ucsb.edu. Information: (805) 893-2204. 7th annual All UC Happy Hour in New York — 6-9pm Nov. 16 at Fashion 40, 202 West 40th St., between 7th and 8th avenues. Join alumni from all UC's, who now live in New York, for a night of networking and fun!  Not only will you reconnect with fellow Gauchos, you will have the unique opportunity to meet alumni from other University of California schools. Please RSVP to:  judy@uclalumni.net Los Angeles Gaucho Holiday Celebration — 7-9pm Dec. 1 at the Edward Cella Art+Architecture, 6018 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. The UCSB Alumni Association and UCSB alumnus/Gallery Director Edward Cella invite you to enjoy art, music, hors d'oeuvres and assorted beverages at a beautiful gallery. As an added treat, the gallery will be hosting an exhibit by multimedia artist George Legrady. Cost: $10 members of the Alumni Association, $15 nonmembers. Register now. Santa Barbara Gaucho Holiday Celebration — 6-8pm Dec. 8 at Mosher Alumni House, UC Santa Barbara in support of the UCSB Associated Students Food Bank. Enjoy live music, hors d'oeuvres and assorted beverages at the festively decorated Mosher Alumni House! In the spirit of the holiday season, we are asking our alumni to support our students and contribute to the UCSB A.S. Food Bank. Register now. Save the Date for the 6th Annual All Gaucho Reunion — April 27-29, 2012, at UC Santa Barbara. Join in being Better Together (as alum Jack Johnson would say)! Run in the Gaucho Gallop benefit race, sip local wines at Taste of UCSB & more. Looking to lasso YOUR Gauchos together? Contact John Lofthus at john@ucsbalum.com for help in getting the process started. Login and Register now! Legacy Scholarship Applications Now Available — If you are a UCSB graduate with a relative currently attending UCSB who has completed 12 or more UCSB units, encourage him or her to apply for an Alumni Legacy Scholarship, sponsored by the UCSB Alumni Association. $1,000 sums presented in June for students continuing in Fall 2012. Applications at www.ucsbalum.com/programs/scholarships/legacy. Contact student.events@ia.ucsb.edu or 893-4611 for info. Deadline to apply, Nov. 30, 2011. Thank you to the graduating class of 2011 who LIVED UP TO THE CHA11ENGE! With more than $17,000 in donations, the class of 2011 was by far the most participatory class yet. The 2011 Senior Class Gift went to the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and to the Associated Students Food Bank. Find out who made it onto the 2011 Senior Class Gift Honor Roll. Bringing You Peace of Mind - Whether you've just graduated, are established with a family and career, or are getting ready to enjoy a well-earned retirement, the Alumni Insurance Program, sponsored by the UCSB Alumni Association, can help you at every stage of your life. Have you joined your UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association? Complete your status as an official UC Santa Barbara alum, and sign up for a Alumni Association membership. Joining is the best way to stay connected and help support the university. With a portion of your membership dollars going to the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, joining today will help our Gaucho students tomorrow. One-year supporting memberships and life memberships available. Find out about other membership advantages. Do you love S’mores? — Thank the Girl Scouts for first publishing the recipe in 1927. These days you can join the Alumni and Friends at the Family Vacation Center all-inclusive family resort for these summer time treats. Families spend the week together on the beachside campus enjoying traditional camp activities along with exciting new events. London: An Insider's Perspective — April 18-24, 2012 — Whether you've visited London before or this is your first time, you'll be seeing it through a new perspective in this behind-the-scenes program. Stay at the private Lansdowne Club, and gain insight from visits to the BBC, the National Theatre and more. European Mosaic: Cruise From Lisbon to Rome — September 13-24, 2012 —Additional reduction of $1,000 per cabin price from current printed pricing. Uncover the cultural and historical riches along the coasts of Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy while cruising aboard Oceania Cruises Riviera. Do you want to prevent the Gaucho eNews and other e-mailings from the UCSB Alumni Association from being routed into your junk file?  Place this email address in your address book... alumni.webmaster@ia.ucsb.edu.