Earlier this month, President Barack Obama spoke at Rutgers University’s commencement ceremony and shared his two cents about the problem of political correctness on college campuses. He said it better than anyone else: “To help ourselves we’ve got to help others – not pull up the drawbridge and try to keep the world out.” Political […]
Author Archives: Shani Shahmoon
Shani Shahmoon: Sanders campaign must fire Jewish outreach coordinator
Bernie Sanders lost the Jewish community last week – if he ever had it to begin with. Last week, the Bernie Sanders campaign hired Simone Zimmerman as their new Jewish outreach coordinator. Shortly after receiving heavy criticism, the campaign suspended Zimmerman until they finish an investigation on the number of allegations made against her oft-considered […]
Shani Shahmoon: Alternative dialogue key to bettering Israel-Palestine relations
Zionism is a whispered word, surrounded by hushes and shushes, and hisses and boos, all within an institution that prides itself for its diversity. There are a variety of definitions for Zionism, but an umbrella definition is that Zionism is the ideology and belief in the right of Jewish self-determination. There are non-Jewish Zionists and […]
Shani Shahmoon: UC Student Association must put mind to finding new data
According to the UC Student Association, the University of California does not provide proper mental health services to its students. Tell me something I don’t know. UCSA’s #HowAreYou campaign just released the results of mental health evaluations given to students and professional staff members at every UC’s mental health facility. The intention behind the survey […]
No Offense, But: Activism
Many progressive Jewish activists feel alienated from progressive activist groups because of their pro-Israel views. Opinion columnists Aram Ghoogasian and Shani Shahmoon discuss whether the issue should actually be a major ideological difference and whether progressive Jews can hope to move past it.
Shani Shahmoon: Students should run for Westwood Neighborhood Council positions
With cracked sidewalks, dull lighting and an uneventful calendar, Westwood needs to be revamped. Before Third Street Promenade and The Grove arrived, Westwood Village was the place to be. When my father lived in West Los Angeles and spent his weekends with his cousins in the Village, they’d walk down Broxton Avenue where local high […]
Shani Shahmoon: Neighborhood council impedes Westwood Boulevard’s potential revival
Westwood Boulevard 2.0: where bicyclists ride in their own lane beside wide and smooth sidewalks, shaded outdoor patios surround fully occupied restaurants and shops, and exercise stations, small library stands and charging docks stand on street corners. This upgrade is possible. Mayor Eric Garcetti put in place the “Great Streets” program in order to recreate […]