Sasha Benke

Sasha Benke

Sasha Benke is a senior at the University of Southern California majoring in International Relations and minoring in Economics. Sasha is passionate about journalism, having been a staff writer and copy editor for her high school’s newspaper, The Burlingame B, and a political science and travel contributor to the Foothill Magazine at Foothill College. On campus, Sasha is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and the Russian Club. She loves languages and writing, and enjoys exploring the power of the written word in different cultures. When she is not writing, she is probably taking photos of her friends and her dog, or playing volleyball on the beach.

My Dedushka and Me – The Impact of the Ukraine War on My Family

There is often nothing more painful than seeing loved ones struggle some 10,000 km away. One thing more painful is the inability to reunite with loved ones due to the substantial risk of being detained or sent to prison. Seeing ...

Studying Abroad in Kyrgyzstan: The Wonders and Drawbacks of a Cultural Experience Far From Home

When I told my peers I would be embarking on a trip to Kyrgyzstan, their first question was, “what on Earth is that?”. From outhouses to striking embassies, my personal experience on the USC Maymester to Kyrgyzstan in May 2022 ...

When Human Rights Defenders Become the Victims: An Interview with Kamil Ruziev

BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN — Beaten, bruised and silenced; this was the fate of Kamil Ruziev, a human rights defender and lawyer based in Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan, placed in prison on bogus charges of fraud and forgery of government documents. The irony, ...