By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer
By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer
By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer
Layla Taha

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter – Winter 2024, Spring 2024

All content by Layla Taha
UW encampment. (Photo courtesy of Common Dreams)

What are your student dollars funding? CWU’s financial ties with Israel

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
May 16, 2024

As the war between Israel and Palestine rages on with more than 30,000 Palestinians killed and over 100 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza according to Al Jazeera, college campuses, including CWU,...

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Racial profiling incident triggers staff response

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
April 25, 2024

CWU has been facing backlash as staff and students of color have been sharing their stories of incidents with police on campus. Most notably, esteemed English professor Dr. Bobby Cummings was recently...

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Mobilizers with signs outside of the SURC - Junpier Deigel, Landis Hanson, Jessica Berkey, and Jaden Thacker

Chalking it up to controversy: CWU employee fired prior to Diversity Awards, land acknowledgment condemned

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
April 10, 2024

As many in the CWU community were gearing up to celebrate the school’s 10th annual Diversity Awards on March 7, others in the community were mobilizing against the seemingly unproblematic ceremony. This...

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Why you should vote “uncommitted” in the upcoming primaries

Layla Taha, Columnist
March 7, 2024

Just like you, I am unexcited about our choices for the presidential primaries. I know just as much as everyone else, that I do not want to see a repeat of the 2020 presidential election run-off between...

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How Diverse is CWU?

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
February 29, 2024

CWU is the "most diverse university in Washington," at least according to the banners displayed across campus. While the university claims levels of excellence in this department, how does CWU's diverse...

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A rendering of the proposed Multi-Cultural Center

The Multi-Cultural Center: The real fight is just now beginning

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
February 23, 2024

CWU has advertised itself as the most diverse campus in Washington, yet we don’t have a Multi-Cultural Center (MCC) like all other public universities in Washington. After years of active mobilization...

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Photo taken at Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Photo courtesy of Layla Taha.

Historical contextualization of the past and present Israel-Palestine conflict

Layla Taha and Astor Powell-Pedersen 
February 16, 2024

History continues to be written in Palestine. With the growing topic of conversation surrounding the Israel-Palestine War, the history that led to today is integral to societal understanding of the topic. The...

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LA GUERRA ENTRE ISRAEL Y PALESTINA: PERSPECTIVAS EN EL CAMPUS

Layla Taha
February 10, 2024

El 7 de octubre marca el advenimiento de otro episodio del intenso conflicto en la guerra de Palestina e Israel. Desde entonces, nuestro país ha visto una erupción de protestas y acalorados debates....

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Raymond Santana speaking at the event. Photo courtesy of Layla Taha.

Raymond Santana: A Voice for the Voiceless

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
February 7, 2024

As a first-hand victim of the brutalities of the state, Raymond Santana is now the voice for the voiceless. On April 19, 1989, a night in Central Park for then 14-year-old Santana would forever alter the...

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The Palestinian Plight: An examination of how our calls are silenced

Layla Taha, Columnist
February 1, 2024

Feb. 1 marks the 117th day of the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The most recent International Court of Justice ruling, of the South Africa case against Israel, ruled that Israel is carrying out genocidal...

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The Israel – Palestine War: Perspectives on Campus

Layla Taha, Staff Reporter
January 26, 2024

Oct. 7 2023 marks the advent of another bout of intense conflict in the ongoing war between Palestine and Israel. Since then, our country has seen an eruption of protests and heated debate. One place that...

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The Working Wildcats: CWU’s student employees union, ‘made for students by students.’

The Working Wildcats: CWU’s student employees union, ‘made for students by students.’

Layla Taha and Isaac Dobmeier
January 20, 2024

The Working Wildcats have already made their mark on CWU as they continue to receive impressive support from students and faculty alike. Since its inception in Sept. 2023, the union has garnered hundreds...

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