Speakers debate Cabrillo College name change at forum

Community involvement in the Cabrillo College name change continued at the Watsonville campus on June 28.

In an open forum, speakers explained how the name Aptos has come to symbolize privilege and exclusion, despite its origins in indigenous language and culture.

Aptos had previously appeared to be a favored choice in the renaming contest.

Around 30 people listened as Board of Trustees member Christina Cuevas explained the colonial legacy of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.

Cabrillo President Matt Wetstein explained the pros and cons of the five names selected by a Board of Trustees-appointed community task force—Aptos College, Cajastaca College, Costa Vista College, Seacliff College and Santa Cruz Coast College.

During what Wetstein called a “gallery walk” past posterboards displaying each name, attendees placed sticky notes on each with written opinions and preferences.

Following the note-placing, Wetstein’s intention was then to visit each name in alphabetical order offering an opportunity to voice opinions for or against.

The first participants were in favor of the name Aptos, citing its Native American roots and translation as “the people.” The indigenous name, calendaruc, meaning “house of the sea” was also a popular choice at the assembly, despite not being offered as a possibility.

However, a speaker associated the name Aptos with “affluence, and racism toward Watsonville.”

A former student of Rolling Hills Middle School admitted that the name conjured feelings of “divisiveness” while reluctantly accepting Aptos as a potential second choice.

Cajastaca quickly emerged as the most popular name, despite a debate over how it might be spelled differently to make its proper pronunciation, caya-stah-kah, easier to interpret. Its translation as “place of the jackrabbits” was even called into question, as well as the possible competition between a jackrabbit and a seahawk as the college mascot.

Costa Vista College received some praise for being the only Spanish language choice in the mix. A criticism that the name is too “Spanglish” was refuted by a language teacher in attendance who explained that the phrase could be rightly translated as “coast scene.”

Seacliff College was also rejected as representing an affluent enclave and sounding like a housing project.

Santa Cruz was judged by most as tied to colonial oppression, and as undesirable as the name Cabrillo.

Andrea Ponce, 22, a Watsonville native and Cabrillo student, was the youngest person in attendance, and one of the last to speak. Though thankful for the work the renaming committees have done, she admitted to being “not too thrilled with the outcome.”

Ponce was the most specific in voicing her opposition to Aptos as a choice. She described her memories of Aptos High as a time when her friends segregated themselves to feel comfortable, and where, if you played Latin music, Anglo students would look at you “like you’re weird.”

“The last thing I want,” she said, “is the segregation in any of these three names, Aptos, Santa Cruz, Seacliff.”

She voiced her belief that a new name should speak to generations to come, and offered her support for Costa Vista as a name that reflected the college’s commitment to serving the Hispanic community.

The name changing process that began in 2020 with a petition from students, faculty, and community members will conclude with a final choice announced on Aug. 7.

The cost of renaming the college will be paid through grants and donations, and the new name will become official in July 2024.

The next public forum to discuss a new name for Cabrillo College will be held at 6pm July 12 at the Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St.