Deceased Cal Poly sociology freshman Giselle Ayala, whose body was found in the surf at Campus Point near the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) on Saturday morning, was in the area for Deltopia (an annual spring break party), according to a sheriff’s office press release.
According to the release, a jogger found the body of a college-aged female in the waterline at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, which was later identified as the 18-year-old Cal Poly student. Ayala had last been seen by a group of friends at 11 p.m. on Friday night, according to the release.
Because an investigation is ongoing, no other information is being released on the manner of her death at this time.
Cal Poly students were notified of Ayala’s death in an email to the campus community on Sunday from Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Humphrey, though the circumstances of her death were not mentioned.
“Our thoughts are with Giselle’s family and those members of our community who were close to her,” Armstrong and Humphrey wrote. “The sudden loss of any student community member can be difficult to understand. All of our campus resources are available to support you if you need assistance.”
Students who wish to speak to someone may contact the University Counseling Center, which is available 24 hours a day online or by phone. Plans for an on-campus memorial have not yet been solidified.
A ‘crazy’ party
Deltopia, formerly known as “Floatopia,” is a spring break beach party drawing thousands of people to Isla Vista every year. It gained notoriety in 2009, when nearly 12,000 individuals flooded the area, resulting in numerous arrests, injuries and damages to property.
This year, Santa Barbara police closed off all local beaches, but partygoers took to Del Playa Drive, a street running alongside the beach in Isla Vista instead.
“The cops were mostly making sure people weren’t going on the beach,” forestry and natural resources sophomore Klarq Treiberg said of the police at the event. “But I saw a few people getting tickets (for other incidents).”
Treiberg described the scene along the drive as “crazy,” with glass breaking from people dancing on cars and water spraying off the balconies. Treiberg also said he saw several families with children and strollers at the event.
“Everyone was drinking and it was crazy, but the people were friendly and I still felt safe and comfortable,” Treiberg said.
Kaytlyn Leslie contributed to this staff report.