Published Works
In-depth reporting and analysis on the issues
shaping our communities, institutions and world.
Sep 30, 2026
Annabelle Hedrick
When Civil Disobedience Stops Being Civil
What is the true definition of the term “civil disobedience”? Over time, it seems to have lost some of its meaning. When we study civil disobedience under Martin Luther King Jr. and compare it to today’s movements, such as Black Lives Matter, how has the definition changed?
Sep 30, 2026
Leela Narayan
Law, Inequality, and the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
The overturning of Roe v. Wade demonstrates how law can perpetuate inequality. Using Marxism, legal violence, and legal consciousness, the piece argues that abortion restrictions affect people differently based on wealth, geography, and resources. Although laws may formally apply equally, individual
Sep 30, 2026
Leela Narayan
Why Civil Disobedience is Necessary for Democracy: A Powell Critique
This essay critiques Lewis F. Powell Jr.’s argument that civil disobedience threatens the rule of law. Using the overturning of Roe v. Wade and civil rights protests as case studies, it argues that resistance to laws perceived as unjust can serve a democratic purpose by challenging government action
Sep 29, 2026
Salwa Usmani
Beyond the Ballot Box: Why Post-Roe America Needs Civil Disobedience
This piece argues that after Roe v. Wade was overturned, voting and legal challenges alone are insufficient to protect reproductive rights. It advocates for public, nonviolent civil disobedience, drawing on historical examples and political philosophy to argue that challenging unjust laws can expose
Oct 12, 2026
Leela Narayan
Girmitiya to Global Warming: How the Global North has Shaped Fiji’s Vulnerabilities to Climate-Related Disasters
Fiji’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters is deeply rooted in British colonialism, indentured labor, and exploitative sugarcane monoculture. Examining the historical and environmental consequences of colonial exploitation, this piece explores Fiji’s ongoing climate challenges and its efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient future.
Sep 30, 2026
Salwa Usmani
Stakeholders, Civic Action, and Negotiated Policy in California’s Homelessness Landscape: A Policy
This policy memo examines California’s homelessness crisis through the roles of government agencies, community organizations, and civic groups. It explores how funding, zoning, Housing First policies, and negotiations between state and local governments shape homelessness responses, while highlighting tensions between service provision, housing affordability, and local political interests.
Sep 30, 2026
Manal Usmani
Investigating Sex-Specific Differences Post Space Radiation Exposure
This study examines sex differences in how space-like radiation affects cognitive function in mice. Researchers found that male mice experienced greater memory impairment, neuronal spine loss, and inflammatory responses than females.
Sep 29, 2026
Jack Hunzinger
Donald Trump, Immigration, and the Prison-Industrial Complex: Public Interest Solutions to Corporate
This article examines how private prisons, political lobbying, and anti-immigrant rhetoric contribute to mass incarceration and immigration detention. It traces their historical development, explores human rights and due process concerns, and proposes solutions including private prison reform, lobbying restrictions, expanded legal representation, immigration court reform, and grassroots organizing.
Sep 29, 2026
Manal Usmani
Sex-Specific Cognitive Deficits Following Exposure to Galactic Cosmic Rays
This study examines how exposure to galactic cosmic radiation may affect cognitive function differently in male and female mice. Preliminary findings suggest that irradiated males experienced greater memory deficits and neuroinflammation than females, highlighting potential sex-specific responses to space radiation and the importance of including both sexes in research.
Sep 29, 2026
Manal Usmani
BDNF augmentation reverses chemotherapy-induced decline in cognitive function and neurogenesis
This study examines how chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment may be linked to reduced BDNF and neurogenesis. Using a mouse model, researchers found that riluzole treatment increased BDNF levels and mitigated chemotherapy-related changes in memory, anxiety-like behavior, and hippocampal neurogen
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How Lululemon Built a Lifestyle Brand
How did Lululemon grow from an activewear company into a global lifestyle brand? This podcast explores Lululemon’s marketing strategy, brand identity, social media presence, community engagement, advertising, and growth potential. We break down how the company uses ambassadors, events, and digital c
Oct 1, 2026
Salwa Usmani
A Review of Thomas Piketty: The Economics of Inequality
How does economic inequality shape your life? Join Jack Hunzinger, a UCI environmental engineering student, as he reviews Thomas Piketty’s work on wealth, inequality, and how the distribution of money shapes opportunity and society.
Oct 1, 2026
Jack Hunzinger
Civil Disobedience in Action: The Fight Over Roe v. Wade
What happens when people believe the law no longer protects their rights? This podcast explores civil disobedience through the overturning of Roe v. Wade, examining how individuals and communities respond to major political and legal change. We discuss protest, resistance, reproductive rights, and ...
Sep 30, 2026
PRAXIS