November 9th 2016. I woke up and immediately checked my phone. A wave of nausea washed over me. I held my hand over my mouth, stunned at the news that Donald Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States. How could my president be a man that has said heinous things about…
What do you think of when you hear the words “Muslim woman?” An invisible, silent girl covered in repressive robes? How about a punching bag whose job it is to carry out the will of the abusive, savage terrorist she was forcibly married to? Would you ever think of a powerful superhero saving the world? …
The presidential election dragged on in the beginning of November, with no clear indication of a projected winner. Thankfully, many of us can breathe now, as Biden was declared president at a 273-214 margin after his victory in Pennsylvania. In addition to Pennsylvania, Biden won key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia.…
It’s no secret that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a captivating and exciting sport to watch, and this year was no different. People from around the world gathered around their TV to observe one of the most anticipated fights in MMA history. The Muslim community was on edge and ready to see one of their…
70 years ago, during the Civil Rights Movement, Blacks mobilized to fight the violence and prejudice they endured generation after generation. The suffering of the Black community is wrong on all accounts, so it should have ended then. The struggle for justice and equality should have been resolved then. The riots and rebellions should have…
Have you already forgotten about the death of innocent Aya?19 years of life ended in cold blood So our ummah donated without having to be nudged Only until her Shia identity was revealed And people’s true colors were no longer concealed Wanting their donations refunded Their minds have been utterly corrupted Believing Shia is not included in our ummah Forgetting our beloved…
Today, May 26th, marks day 121 since the first coronavirus case was detected in California and day 69 of quarantine (CalMatters). Are you hanging in there? Maybe you are tired of isolation, struggling to find entertainment, overwhelmed by academic workload, lacking the motivation to workout, eager to travel when this is all over, picking up…
Since the beginning of Fall quarter, many students of the MSA at UCLA looked forward to the numerous events held during the Spring quarter. Some of these events included Ramadan, Islam Awareness Week, Spring Forward, College Day, and the End of the Year Banquet. Despite fundraising for months and holding numerous preparation meetings, all of…
“What is your race? Check all that apply.” If you’ve ever filled out some questionnaire, you’ve checked the boxes. If you hail from a country in the Middle East/North African region, you probably (against every bone in your body screaming at you to check anything, literally anything else) checked “White.” Sometimes the forms go as…
COVID-19 does not care about inequity, and neither does society. The COVID-19 outbreak is altering our approach to education. Students are quarantining at home and undergoing virtual instruction through Zoom, all while universities prepare for future decisions, including but not limited to: refunding students for university housing, organizing online summer sessions, easing college admissions requirements,…