Sound Bites

By Ajay Singh

As 2006 comes to a close, capping a year of political upheaval at home and wars abroad, Voices Editor Ajay Singh went around campus asking people to identify the one national or international event this year that personally affected them the most.

Gloria Greengard, administrative assistant, School of Public Health

The midterm elections. I was glad to see the Democrats win after so many years of the Republicans dominating Congress. And I hope the Democrats take back the presidency, too, in 2008.

Stephanie Brasley, information literacy instruction coordinator, College Library

The ups and downs of the continuing war in Iraq are a global issue that has come home to the UCLA community in a big way. You can see it in the courses offered on campus, the papers that students write and the articles in the Daily Bruin. We're a diverse community, and I like what is happening because it shows our students do care about global issues and think that their voice can make a difference.

Ali Behdad, chair, Department of Comparative Literature

The bombing of Lebanon last summer personally affected me, not only in witnessing the death of so many innocent civilians, but also as a reminder of what my homeland, Iran, would look like should the United States or Israel decide to preemptively attack it.

Andras Bodrogligeti, professor emeritus, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

It is, of course, the situation in Iraq. I used to teach the Kurdish language — I have friends in Kurdistan. And although it's good to see Kurdistan gain more independence, the events elsewhere — the destruction of life, nature and everything that culture is about — have influenced and depressed me very much. And I don't think we can do much about it. I don't think President Bush can get out of Iraq in a dignified way.