Current Metro measures are enough to ensure traffic safety


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As a frequent rider of Metro Bus line 81, I have expressed to friends and family that “I hate L.A. Metro.” I have frequently ridden a train sitting next to stinky men, experienced buses arriving two minutes off schedule (atrocious, I know) and once had a bus break down twice while I was on it. […]

Celebration of space exploration needed


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When astronaut Scott Kelly, who blasted into orbit on Friday for a one-year stay on the International Space Station, returns to Earth in March 2016, he will have spent more time in space than any other American astronaut. Scientists hope that his year in zero gravity will help establish the physical and psychological effects expected […]

Media misses the point with Ted Cruz


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Ted Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, is the first Republican to officially announce his candidacy for president in 2016. His early endorsements include every registered Democrat in the United States. His early detractors should include every Republican who hopes their party can make a credible case for the White House. And yet, the media […]

Iran nuclear talks need to conclude


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Next week marks the deadline set last March by government officials to reach an agreement with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. With no framework set yet, it is difficult to imagine that an agreement will be reached between Iran and the West by the end of the month. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looking […]

Music video touts outdated images


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Sorry, Meghan Trainor, but it’s really not “all about that bass” — in fact, the problem many people have with the singer is not her curvy figure but the content of her music. The latest controversy surrounding Trainor centers on the new music video for “Dear Future Husband,” a track off her debut album, Title. […]

American involvement crucial for protection of global politics


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In 2014, President Barack Obama touted Yemen as the golden child of his counterterrorism program. At the time, such seemed to be the case. As soon as President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi took office in 2012 with the help of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, Yemen grew closer to becoming a full-fledged democracy and a helpful […]

U.S. interference would cause more trouble in Yemen


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For decades, Yemen has been marked by economic turmoil and political instability. This unrest came to a peak Sunday as Houthi rebels — Shiite Muslims who feel discriminated against in a mostly Sunni nation — took over Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city. With the capital city, Sanaa, already surrendered to the insurgents, U.N. officials have […]

Boko Haram pledge is a sign of weakness


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Last week, the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram swore allegiance to the Islamic State. If there’s anything worse than one threatening terrorist organization declaring its loyalty to another, even more hostile group, it is the fact that Boko Haram did so through an audio message shared on Twitter. The arc of many news narratives and […]

HeforShe reaches wide audience


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This past Sunday marked more than just one less hour of sleep. March 8 was the 107th annual International Women’s Day — a date heralding the forward progression of our clocks as well as that of the feminist movement. Naturally, the woman that Elle UK has crowned the “fresh new face of feminism” was at […]

Raises crucial for ensuring safety in L.A. community


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This week, the Los Angeles Police Department got one step closer to ending a battle with the city for higher wages. Officers have been working without a contract since July. This previous contract guaranteed only small 1 or 2 percent pay increases. Under a new, pending contract agreement, however, LAPD salaries will increase by 8.2 […]