Depending on who you ask, online education has the opportunity to either revolutionize the way we approach schooling, or really do nothing more than waste a ton of money. If you ask Gov. Jerry Brown, it’s a revelation. During his tenure at the helm of the Golden State, Brown has pushed the University of California […]
Author Archives: Ryan Nelson
Ryan Nelson: Benefits of hiring undergrad TAs outweigh costs
In physics, it’s understood that for every force acting on an object, that object is sending back a force of equal and opposite magnitude. But if you ask Joseph Rudnick, the dean of the UCLA Division of Physical Sciences and a professor of physics himself, this property of motion can apply to other areas as […]
Ryan Nelson: Homeboy Industries brings LA to Bruins
Located at the northern edge of Chinatown, just two miles southeast of Dodger Stadium and a mile north of City Hall, Homeboy Industries stands out against the backdrop of a towering train overpass, across from nondescript buildings adorned in Chinese script and a massive lot half-filled with yellow school buses. It’s literally the end of the line. […]
Ryan Nelson: Legislative crowdsourcing a promising medium for lobbying groups
Hell hath no fury like an anonymous Internet commenter. It seems that every article and video on the Internet, no matter how benign or innocent, eventually ends up in some bizarre mix of strange arguments and offensive language. You don’t have to go any farther than UCLA to see the vitriol; even this week we’ve […]
Ryan Nelson: Income-based repayment shows promise for use by state school systems
Who wants to invest in Ryan Nelson Inc.? I’m tall, healthy, studying environmental sciences at UCLA, and have a knack for recalling David Duchovny and Marvel comic book trivia. Thanks to an effort by companies such as Pave and Upstart, a newly established marketplace allows people to invest in other people, instead of stocks, that […]
Ryan Nelson: UC, AFSCME agreement shows change is possible
Three strikes, and the University of California is out. Or so it appears, given the fact that the yearlong, contentious contract negotiations between the American Federation State, County and Municipal Employees 3299 and the UC ended mere days before the union was set to host its third strike. It’s a result that shocked many (including […]
Ryan Nelson: AFSCME protests unlikely to strike a chord with UC system
For the third time in less than a year, University of California campuses will be flooded with picket signs and green shirts. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents the UC’s service and medical workers, are planning to walk off the job next week for a five-day demonstration. If […]