“I came for a black coffee (somehow got a fig honey matcha latte), stayed for the energy, and left wishing every fundraiser felt this effortless.”— Baara Abu Ghalyoun (Student of Biology) A pop-up home café nestled in a small university apartment, Café 504 radiated a warmth that came not just from the coffee, but from…
As the new school year begins and we welcome new members to our Islamic community, it is important to revisit the topic of inclusivity, especially in our tight-knit Muslim Student Association (MSA). In an environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are values being silenced, it is important for us not to be complicit and instead…
“Pause, breathe, and look around you silently for a moment. Let your heart say Subhan Allah” – UCLA Undergraduate, Sezen Musa Early Friday morning, members of UCLA’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) embarked on a lengthy, eight hour road trip to Utah for a two-night retreat. While driving across four states may have seemed arduous, the…
Trigger Warning: Mentions of violence on the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at UCLA. I attended the Palestine Solidarity Encampment with the idea that this is the best I could do for the people of Palestine. To physically show up would be my best shot at being an ally and an activist for the Palestinian struggle. And…
“I would say there are prominent communities that exist in the MSA, and mine isn’t one of them.” We have come a long way in developing and creating safe spaces on campus for our social identities, whether rooted in race, religion, or major. But at what point does creating a safe space for oneself start…
Editor’s Note: the author of this work has requested that their identity be concealed for the purpose of openly sharing their first-hand accounts of the police’s brutalization of pro-Palestinian protesters. The author does not wish for their accounts to be retroactively traced back to their identity and misconstrued with other activities that did not involve…
An ode to those who stayed. An ode to those who suffered. An ode to those who slept. An ode to those who prayed. An ode to those who stood. To the youth, the students, the alumni, the faculty. To the refugees, the immigrants, the eyewitnesses, and the delegators. To those who resided in peace…
What happened last night was nothing short of a travesty. Last night, a group of pro-Israeli agitators arrived on UCLA campus and violently attacked student protestors demonstrating at the Dickson Court Solidarity Encampment spearheaded by Students for Justice in Palestine. The assailants were seen covering their faces with white masks to conceal their identities as…
College students across the United States have taken a stand against the Palestinian genocide, including here at UCLA. Over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed with over two-thirds being women and children. Pro-Palestenian encampments have provided a visible platform and community for dialogue and advocacy to push for conversation and movement towards social justice with the…
Several months ago, the Al-Talib Editorial Board condemned a statement released by the office of Chancellor Gene Block that took a biased stance against bigotry on UCLA’s campus in light of Israel’s violations of international law. The statement was nothing short of tone-deaf, hypocritical, and lacking critical nuance regarding the rise of anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and…