Chants and cries for freedom and women’s rights could be heard from Tommy Trojan to USC Village as a group of USC students marched on October 7th to raise awareness of the situation unfolding in Iran. A small group of student organizers wanted to bring Persian students on campus together and provide an outlet to voice their thoughts. One of those student organizers is senior Rana Aghababazadeh.
Rana Aghababazadeh: “A group of us wanted to have the protest to provide an opportunity and a space for our Iranian students to express how upset they are and how much they want to see change in Iran.”
In Iran, violence has only been escalating as more protests are occurring. The Iranian Regime has been violently cracking down on demonstrators. USC and President Carol Folt have issued statements in regard to the crisis. USC’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Christopher Manning released a statement on behalf of the university. Part of it reads:
“As an international community that values freedom of expression and basic human rights, we mourn the tragic violence in Iran in the aftermath of the death of Mahsa Amini.”
The university ended the statement by highlighting already existing resources to support students who are affected by violence in Iran. However, some students want more from the university and are questioning why the administration hasn’t done more.
Rana Aghababazadeh: “There are students right now, USC students, with loved ones in Iran who are risking their lives every day by going out into the streets and getting arrested. USC students are not hearing from their loved ones. They get worried. So it’s not Just some foreign occurrence on another planet. It’s very tied to USC students And I think that’s very significant Because the university should be Doing even more to Support those Students.”
Students aren’t disappointed with just the Administration’s response either. Another student organizer, sophomore Darian A. says the response from the Persian Student Organization more commonly known as PSO has been lacking as well.
Darian A: “No one’s talking about how no one on the Persian executive board was at the protests or how they’re doing nothing on this. So, you know, it’s time to call people out. It’s time to hold people accountable and move forward and move on.
Annenberg Radio was not able to reach the Persian Student Organization for a statement. Darian is a host of the student-run podcast “The Chai Guys” which tackles how the situation unfolding in Iran is affecting Iranians in Southern California and brings awareness to the crisis in Iran. He said:
Darian A: [There is] “no time better than now to push for this. And it requires a push if it makes people uncomfortable to talk about. So what? It should not be taboo.”
As the situation in Iran continues, Persian students say the main way that their peers can support them is to bring continuous awareness to the protests in Iran and the developments unfolding.
Darian A: “Use your platform because they’re cutting the Internet in Iran. So people can’t post on Instagram, people can’t post on Facebook. So if we can be their voice, that’s really impactful.”
Aghababazadeh believes another way to support Iranian students on campus is to reach out.
Rana Aghababazadeh: “Checking in on your Iranian friends. I think that’s also an important part let them know that you’re there for them, because a lot of this. Movement is driven by Iranians, and It’s hard to keep a movement alive when it’s eating you up inside. So just supporting them.”
As the conflict in Iran becomes more volatile, students are looking to the administration and leaders at USC to step up for the Persian community on campus. However, as more violence unfolds and expectations raise for a response, the question that remains is what will USC do? If anything?