Author Archives: Ilana Fried

I had a problem when I started at UCLA. Though not serious, it was definitely amusing. One year ago, I thought I had “figured it out.” Flung from my San Francisco hometown into the sprawl of Westwood dorm life, I felt unbreakable and ready for anything. But my arrogance was short-lived. I wasn’t actually that […]

Education, once considered a right, has become a privilege. It’s time the playing field be made more equal. This is why the Dream Act, a piece of legislation that would offer undocumented students a chance at legal residency, financial loans and in-state tuition, stands as an important and timely bill. Currently pending in Congress, the […]

I don’t love everything about my appearance. And I doubt that most women do. But when Fox launched the new reality surgical makeover show “The Swan” in April and recently announced the show’s pageant winner, I felt particularly disappointed. Basically, the show revolves around 16 “ugly ducklings” who suffer from enormous amounts of insecurity. So, […]

Hate is a four-letter word, but, believe it or not, hate-peddlers such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazi Party can legally exist ““ at least in theory ““ at universities such as UCLA. Are you surprised? You can thank the Constitution because even statements of “hate” are constitutionally protected. When the KKK starting […]

Contrary to popular belief, Latinos aren’t stealing tax dollars, and they’re not hurting the state’s future. Many Californians live under the delusion that undocumented Latinos exploit state resources. According to legislative leaders such as former Gov. Pete Wilson, undocumented Latinos should be denied equal healthcare and education. But Sergio Arau’s comedy “A Day Without a Mexican” shows […]

There is an important anniversary coming up. Monday will mark 50 years since the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education noted separate schools for black and white students were “inherently unequal.” But how much celebration is in order? The truth is segregation still exists in Los Angeles and in many U.S. school […]

I don’t think I’m alone when I say I don’t understand the politics of the Undergraduate Students Association Council. Sure, I’ve read Daily Bruin articles on the subject, but the elections and the issues of the candidates still appear distant and abstract. As a first-year student, I’m particularly baffled. Who are these candidates? Should I […]