Winter 2012

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Social media project aims to end isolation on the 'L.'

Mariam Gomaa wants to stay out of the “Northwestern bubble,” where she says students can sometimes forget to explore their surroundings. So the junior creative writing and biology major and photographer created “Marooned on the Subway” with Mohanned El-Natour (McC09).

Funded by an Inspire Media grant, the social media project documents her conversations with complete strangers on the “L.” Gomaa has had conversations with fellow riders about art, writing, music and sports. She hopes to break existing stereotypes.

“My goal is also to invite people to think about what it means to be part of our society,” she said. “It’s very easy to become isolated and ignore everything else around you. Making a difference starts on a very small scale, like talking to someone on the train.”