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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Leila Olukoga

Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor

Leila Olukoga is a senior studying global liberal studies and journalism. When she is not in the WSN office, you will find her on Youtube watching Beta Squad, on the Atlanta s/reddit or watching La Liga Football. Send TV show and sports game recommendations to [email protected].

All content by Leila Olukoga
A person holding a brown sign that says, “NYU RUNS ON MURDER DIVEST NOW.”

Off Topic: The Congo and Sudan exist in activism’s blind spot

Activism is a means of forcing the media to turn their attention to injustice, but too often, ongoing humanitarian crises like those in Sudan and the Congo go overlooked.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 22, 2024

The Sudanese Civil War has been characterized as one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world, yet also one of the most underreported. As of October 2023, nearly 70% of...

A three person panel sitting in front of a crowd. The left person has a blue spotlight on them, the person in the middle has a red and blue spotlight and the person on the right has a red spotlight.

Opinion: Student activism in the age of Trump

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies and rhetoric surrounding protests on college campuses threaten the safety of protestors and the efficacy of the First Amendment.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 14, 2024

Many Americans have grown weary of the impending threats to their rights in the days following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Trump’s notoriety for impeding on various...

An illustration of the Earth on fire. Laying on top of the Earth is a student on their phone.

Off Topic: Doom scrolling destroys the planet — not just your mood

Generation Z may be social-media warriors when it comes to climate activism, but our online activism and activity may be having unintended negative effects.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 11, 2024

Climate change has been at the forefront of political debates for decades, with Generation Z leading the charge in recent years. Nearly 50% of Gen Z say mitigating the impacts...

An illustration of a woman screaming and text that reads “STAFF RANTS.”

Staff Rants: Post-election feelings

WSN staff shares their feelings in light of the 2024 presidential election results.

The Democrats have severely underestimated the power of the insecure white man.  — Yezen Saadah, Editor-in-Chief To the women from our grandmothers’ generation and to the...

Off Topic: True crime lovers, let's talk boundaries

Off Topic: True crime lovers, let’s talk boundaries

We must recognize that true crime storytelling carries a responsibility to inform, not to glamorize.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 1, 2024

True crime entertainment is more popular than ever, but at what point does our curiosity cross a line?  As Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” reaches...

A graph titled "Changes in N.Y.U. first-year demographics."

Opinion: The case for affirmative action and what comes next

The striking down of affirmative action has negatively affected rates of POC enrollment and threatens a fair admissions process. NYU should take measures to ensure diversity.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor October 24, 2024

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in college admissions, triggering a sharp decline in diversity across college campuses nationwide. In...

An illustration of a person standing on stage and holding a microphone surrounded by red light. Dark blue message bubbles float above the crowd with neon blue expressions of happiness, sadness and anger on them.

Off Topic: It’s time to end stan culture

The obsessive idolization of celebrities is damaging to both society and individual mental health.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor October 2, 2024

When I was 6 years old, my mom introduced me to “Ready to Die” by The Notorious B.I.G. The aggression in Biggie’s tone and the uniqueness of his flow marked the first time...

A group of people posing for a picture. The person in the middle is holding a sign that says “UNION NOW.”

Opinion: NYU must meet the demands of its RA union

Student Workers at NYU have been fighting for fairer conditions for resident assistants across the university. It’s time NYU listened.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor September 18, 2024

The application process for becoming a resident assistant is not an easy one. It’s a lengthy endeavor involving multiple interviews, assessments and training sessions. At first...

Seven students wear masks while sitting at their desks in an NYU classroom. A professor sitting on a table listens to a student.

Immunocompromised students concerned following mask mandate removal

Although some students and faculty members have continued to wear masks on campus following the lift of the mandate last month, some immunocompromised students are concerned about increased risks to their health.
Leila Olukoga, Contributing Writer October 13, 2022

Some immunocompromised students at NYU, who are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 complications, are concerned about their health following the university’s decision to...