Sharla Steinman

The New York Times • 7th May 2025

About 80 Pro-Palestinian Activists Arrested in Columbia Library Takeover

About 80 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday evening after occupying part of the main library on Columbia University’s campus in an attempt to rekindle the protest movement that swept the campus last spring, the police said Thursday morning.The protesters, wearing masks and kaffiyehs, had burst through a security gate shortly after 3 p.m. and hung banners in the soaring main room of Butler Library’s second floor, renaming the space “the Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” acc...

Uncloseted Media • 6th May 2025

Why Gender-Affirming Vocal Care Is "Enormously Important" for Many Trans People

On “Blurring Time,” the title track to Bells Larsen’s latest album, listeners hear the song sway between a high, female-sounding voice, and a low, male-sounding voice. “It's not as simple as either or. I am both and I’m more, most of all I’m unsure,” Larsen recites.While the song may sound like it was recorded by two different artists, this isn’t a duet.It's entirely sung by Larsen, who uses his voice to tell the story of his sophomore album, released last month.Larsen meticulously planned the a...

City Newsroom • 29th April 2025

What Do The Federal Funding Cuts Mean To Columbia University? - City Newsroom

The Federal Government cut $400 million dollars in funding at Columbia University last month citing what they called “the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” 
The University agreed to make changes to its protest policies, beef up security, all while bringing oversight to its Middle Eastern studies department. But let’s backtrack… where did this all start?
Nearly a year ago, Columbia University became the epicenter of pro-Palestinian encampments h...

City Newsroom • 12th March 2025

New Yorkers Grapple with the High Cost of Child Care - City Newsroom

Randi Rivera enjoys spending time with her son Wally in Park Slope. Randi is a new mom and native New Yorker who’s struggling to make ends meet with the high cost of child care in the city.
 “If I’m going to pay someone to basically care for him and pay them pretty much what I make, then what am I doing? You know, it feels like, well, then I should probably be the one to just do it,” Randi says.
Randi is a freelance stage manager who has had to scale back the number of hours she takes on so that...

The New York Times • 12th March 2025

New Yorkers Protest as White House Defends Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia

As hundreds of demonstrators made their way through Lower Manhattan on Tuesday to protest the detention of a prominent pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia University, the White House defended the arrest and rebuked the school for what it called lack of cooperation.The activist, Mahmoud Khalil, was a leader of student protests on Columbia’s campus and often served as a negotiator and spokesman. Mr. Khalil, 30, who is Palestinian and was born and raised in Syria, is a legal permanent resident of...

The New York Times • 11th March 2025

Among American Jews, a Schism Over Pro-Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest

The arrest of a former Columbia University graduate student who gained prominence amid that campus’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations has divided the American Jewish community, which finds itself trying to reconcile a longstanding focus on Jewish safety and support for Israel with a historical commitment to civil liberties.Immigration authorities’ detention of the activist, Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, has satisfied some American Jews who had wished for aggressive action from Columb...

Sharla Steinman • 21st February 2025

My Bodega Worker's New York Story Broadcast Package

Broadcast Writing Final Project

Uncloseted Media • 2nd February 2025

The HIV Crisis People Aren't Talking About: Why Black Women Are 10 Times More at Risk

Republished in Gay Times and The Emancipator

Daily Bruin • 21st October 2024

This Week: Encampment at UCLA - Daily Bruin

“Our campus is in deep pain,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block in a statement released Thursday. After a week of tension, violence, and chaos, the Daily Bruin News editors join the show to discuss recent events on campus—from the establishment of the UC Divest Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA encampment to the policy dispersal Thursday morning. Podcasts contributor Sofia Alcomendas also joins the show to discuss a potential ceasefire deal in Gaza and encampments on college...

Medium • 18th October 2024

Kicking Off Change: Edafe Okporo’s Community-Centric Campaign for City Council

Profile on Edage Okporo, a candidate in NYC's 2025 District 7 City Council Race

Medium • 17th October 2024

New York’s District 7 Grapples with Escalating Housing Affordability Crisis Amid Soaring Rents

By Sharla SteinmanResidents of Manhattan’s 7th District face a severe and surging housing affordability crisis, with nearly half of all renters burdened by excessive housing costs. The increasing demand for affordable housing is outpacing the available supply, leading to a surge in rental prices. This growing financial strain jeopardizes their ability to maintain stable housing and threatens the community’s diversity and cohesion.The average resident would need to make $140,000 or more annually...

The New York Times • 16th October 2024

Columbia Bars Vocal Pro-Israel Professor From Campus

Columbia University has temporarily barred a vocal pro-Israel professor from campus, saying he repeatedly harassed and intimidated the school’s employees.Shai Davidai, an assistant professor in the business school, has been a polarizing presence on campus since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas led an attack on Israel that has turned Gaza into a battlefield. He has accused Columbia of not doing enough to crack down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which he says are broadly antisemitic and support terro...

The New York Times • 7th October 2024

Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian Students at Columbia Hold Side-by-Side Protests

Columbia University has been a focal point of anger and tensions over the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year and the war in Gaza that has followed. On Monday, the anniversary of the attack, it took on that role once again, as students and faculty held rallies, class walkouts and vigils to mourn the lives lost in both Israel and Gaza.Outside the university gates, about 100 members of the Jewish community gathered holding Israeli flags and posters showing the faces of people kidnapped...

Daily Bruin • 11th June 2024

This Year - Daily Bruin

A recap of events from the 2023-2024 school year including the political demonstrations, departure of Chip Kelly, cancellation of Spring Sing and upcoming national election with Podcasts contributor Olivia Miller, City and Crime editor Sharla Steinman, Sports staff writer Jack Nelson, Arts editor Talia Sajor and Podcasts contributor Aidan Teeger.
 
Olivia Miller: You are listening to This Year by Daily Bruin Podcasts. This year is our special grad issue edition of This Week. Today, instead of hi...

Daily Bruin • 8th June 2024

This Week: June 7 - Daily Bruin

Updates from elections in Mexico, India and South Africa. President Biden signs in executive action regarding asylum. Podcasts contributors Tilly Jones and Hela Khalil discuss these stories and more with Podcasts editor Jack Garland. Assistant News editors Sharla Steinman and Matthew Royer join the show to discuss a pro-Palestine protest on campus.

Jack Garland: Today is Friday, June 7, and you are listening to This Week by Daily Bruin Podcasts. Happy week 10, everyone. This is our last episo...

Daily Bruin • 31st May 2024

Former UCLA child care teacher charged with sexual battery, cruelty to a child - Daily Bruin

This post was updated June 2 at 9:47 p.m.
Editor’s note: The following article contains a description of reported sexual crimes against a child.
A former UCLA early child care education teacher was charged with multiple counts of sexual battery, false imprisonment, battery on a person, cruelty to a child and sexual penetration by a foreign object Tuesday. 
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office filed the charges Tuesday against Christopher Rodriguez – who worked in various UCLA ECE centers, incl...

Daily Bruin • 30th May 2024

UCLA contracts with CHP, LAPD reveal costs associated with police on campus - Daily Bruin

For the Daily Bruin’s full coverage on the UC Divest Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA encampment, see here.
Contracts obtained by the Daily Bruin outlined costs associated with policing on campus.
Outside police forces were used as part of policing in response to the April 30 attack on pro-Palestine protesters and in the May 2 police sweep of the Palestine solidarity encampment. Former UCPD Chief John Thomas had previously told the Daily Bruin his department was understaff...

Daily Bruin • 30th May 2024

Law enforcement leadership structure at UCLA faces scrutiny in wake of encampment - Daily Bruin

This post was updated June 2 at 9:27 p.m.
For the Daily Bruin’s full coverage on the UC Divest Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA encampment, see here.
Municipal leaders, policing experts and documents acquired by the Daily Bruin outlined and discussed the law enforcement leadership structure on campus.
On the night of April 30, aggressors attacked the Palestine solidarity encampment with fireworks and tear gas, with no arrests being made that evening. On May 2, over 200 ind...

Daily Bruin • 29th May 2024

This Week: May 24 - Daily Bruin

Podcasts contributors Sofia Alcomandas, Lauren Miller and Olivia Miller discuss the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, the New York trial of former president Donald Trump and more. Sharla Steinman, the city and crime editor, joins the show.

Olivia Miller: Today is Friday, May 24th, and you are listening to This Week by Daily Bruin Podcasts.
This is Daily Bruin’s weekly news podcast for college students. Thanks for joining us for another episode. Today we will be discussing the death of...

Daily Bruin • 24th May 2024

UCPD makes 1st arrest related to attacks on pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA - Daily Bruin

This post was updated May 29 at 5:43 p.m.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect a change in the court date for the arrested individual. At the time of this article’s publication, the arrested individual was set to appear in court on May 28. He will now appear in court on June 21.
UCPD made its first arrest Thursday in relation to the April 30 counter-protester attack on the first Palestine solidarity encampment at UCLA.
The arrested individual, 18-year-old Edan On, was booked for fe...

Daily Bruin • 21st May 2024

UCLA Police Chief John Thomas temporarily reassigned from duties

This post was updated May 24 at 2:21 a.m.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more information. 
UCLA named Gawin Gibson as acting chief of the UCPD on Wednesday after former Chief John Thomas was “temporarily reassigned” Monday.
Gibson has worked in UCPD for over 28 years, most recently as UCPD’s operations bureau captain. He also received his doctorate in education from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education in 2021.
Thomas’ reassignment comes as UC...

Daily Bruin • 14th May 2024

Former UCLA dentistry student pleads guilty to charges of shooting Jewish victims - Daily Bruin

Former UCLA School of Dentistry student Jaime Tran agreed to plead guilty Tuesday to all charges related to him shooting two Jewish men in February 2023 as they left religious services. 
Tran, who was last enrolled at UCLA in 2018, pled guilty to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to a Tuesday press release from the United States Department of Justice. 
Tran is expected...

Daily Bruin • 4th May 2024

This Week: Encampment at UCLA - Daily Bruin

“Our campus is in deep pain,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block in a statement released Thursday. After a week of tension, violence, and chaos, the Daily Bruin News editors join the show to discuss recent events on campus—from the establishment of the UC Divest Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA encampment to the policy dispersal Thursday morning. Podcasts contributor Sofia Alcomendas also joins the show to discuss a potential ceasefire deal in Gaza and encampments on college...

Daily Bruin • 30th April 2024

UCPD responds to counter-protesters midnight attempt to breach encampment - Daily Bruin

Around 60 counter-protesters attempted to breach the entrance of the encampment in Dickson Plaza around midnight Tuesday morning, drawing the presence of six UCPD officers in riot gear.
The confrontation began at 11:30 p.m. on Monday between Powell Library and Kaplan Hall after counter-protesters used a megaphone to shout and play music in front of the encampment’s barricade in Dickson Plaza earlier in the night.
A fight between members of both sides broke out around 11:40 p.m., leading the six...