A Conversation with a Native American on the Environment
I was having a hard time tearing my attention away from his words, spoken in a soothing tone, in order to take notes on his answers. But how else would I capture his wise thoughts?
Growing up Muslim post 9/11: Standing out in North Dakota
Alaa Koleilat, a 3rd year Neuroscience major at UCLA, was living in North Dakota when the attacks happened. She shares her experience as one of the few Muslims that live in this state.
Growing up Muslim post 9/11: Being on a Plane During the Attacks
Al-Talib speaks with Sabrina Syed, a 2nd year student at UCLA majoring in Biology, on her experience traveling back from Pakistan to the U.S. the day of the September 11 attacks. Syed was 8 years old at that time and was traveling with her sister and mother.
How to NOT host extravagant Ramadan feasts
As a member of the South Asian community, I have attended numerous iftars that seem more like parties than iftar gatherings. If you’re a Muslim you’re probably thinking, “Iftar ‘parties’ and ‘gatherings’ are the same thing, dummy!” Sadly, our community has failed to distinguish between the kind of parties we host during most of the…
Success: A Test of Gratitude and Humility
Try to recall the last time you achieved something big, commendable, note-worthy. Straight A’s? A promotion? Election into a high position? Admission into a competitive university? Most of us have experienced the sweetness of success. Some of us view it as a blessing. Fewer of us recognize the Source of it and remember to thank…
The iPhone Effect: Overfeeding our Nafs
The month of Ramadan we have just entered is a time when we purify ourselves from our physical and worldly desires. While we curb our temptations in this month to detach ourselves from this dunya, this consumer society we live in, conversely, encourages indulging in the desires of our nafs, our ego. It’s really unfortunate…
How to Prepare for Final Exams
If it’s one time you really need to stay focused during the quarter, it’s during finals week. Yet, I’ve noticed the difficulty many of us have studying for our finals and completing final assignments during this one week. Here are some tips I’ve picked up to help us prepare for our exams.
Why our Current Education System is Leading us to Failure
When we walk into the lecture hall, we can easily identify the seats meant for students and the single podium that belongs to the teacher. Many of the lecture halls at universities are meant to accommodate hundreds of students at a time, the seats arranged theater-style…
Video Rant Shows Need for UCLA to Pass a “Diversity” Requirement
The infamous “Asians in the Library” video shows that not all students have been adequately prepared on how to deal with diversity. This recent incident demonstrates the need for UCLA to finally pass a “diversity” requirement.
Insider Sheds Light on the Egyptian Revolution
Al-Talib interviews Hassen Morad, an Egyptian American who has been covering the protests through vlogs. He went to Egypt over two months ago with the intention of studying at Al-Azhar University. A-T: Describe the new social and political environment in Egypt. What changes have you seen since you arrived? Morad: It’s difficult to say there’s…