For nine months, I had the invaluable opportunity to investigate the Yemeni civil conflict and humanitarian crisis in greater detail with the U.S. Agency for International Development — particularly within the lens of foreign diplomatic involvement on part of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Below is a summarized excerpt of those findings that I wished to…
i return to los angeles to continue my studies; to go back to the life i am building for myself in order to heal from hometown trauma, let alone leave the drama behind. orange sparkled clouds upon berry eyes, i stare out and cry for my mother to hold me once more, once more a…
In this day and age, we are all no strangers to celebrity culture. From actors to athletes, chances are there is an A-list celebrity that has earned your respect or perhaps inspired you to strive for greatness. I, myself, am not afraid to admit that I have admired LeBron James for nearly 15 years. As…
In 1953, Iran’s democratically-elected government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh had been overthrown yet again to restore power to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. The final months of Mosaddegh’s government were nothing short of chaotic. Economic tensions flared as the British embargo tanked public approval and sparked political violence among dissenting…
USC just set an alarming precedent in academia. On April 15, 2024, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew Guzman announced that their class valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, will not be delivering a speech at this year’s upcoming commencement. The administration cites safety concerns stemming from ongoing political tensions amid months of atrocities and…
“This is not hijab.” In a TikTok with nearly 10 million views, an anonymous user posted a series of photos of women wearing different hijab styles and outfits, labeling each photo with “This is not hijab” or “This is hijab.” The comment section is filled with either support for calling out the supposed “improper” hijab…
“The way she held hope that her son would be released from prison was by checking the leaves of her orange tree everyday. She would ask my aunt, ‘have the leaves turned green yet? My son is coming home once they do.” Above is an excerpt from an interview I conducted with a Palestinian-American student…
In the wake of violent settler colonialism in Palestine, international support has become evermore essential in protecting Palestinian families from further encroachment upon basic human rights. However, with polarized politics and religious zeal involved, a considerable number of people — even progressively-minded individuals — have attempted to make unifying remarks to acknowledge the atrocities while…
During a raging pandemic, which has affected millions around the world, what actions should a responsive, sympathetic government take to mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19? Mandate mask-wearing and social distancing policies? Certainly. Provide a semblance of universal basic income for fired or furloughed workers? Now we’re getting somewhere. Ostracize an entire religious community unrelated…
“Seeing is believing.” As the trial of Derek Chauvin proceeds, the prosecution and defense — despite their fundamental differences — both outlined strategies that are inherently premised on this theme. By the end of opening statements, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell coaxed jurors to “believe your eyes, that it’s homicide — it’s murder,” whereas Chauvin’s attorney Eric…