Recently, a proposal has been floating among police departments to attach cameras to the lapels of police officers as they go about their patrols. And no, that’s not the pitch for a new twist on the Fox TV series “Cops.” Rather, it’s a movement that’s gained serious steam in the law enforcement world in the […]
Author Archives: Ryan Nelson
Ryan Nelson: Tribute to Marine who dedicated his life to others
The first thing people ask me about my cousin Jacob when I mention his death is “were you guys close?” The honest answer is no. His tattoo remains my clearest memory of him. We were teenagers when he showed it to me. It was a towering blue wave, representative of the time he spent growing […]
Ryan Nelson: Students should support efforts to curb NSA surveillance
They see you when you’re sleeping. They know when you’re awake. And boy, do they know if you’ve been bad or good. For our friends at the National Security Agency, it’s just all in a day’s work. Whether it’s looking at our phone calls, indexing our emails, checking our Facebook accounts or even going into our […]
Ryan Nelson: One-size-fits-all approach to colleges needs to be re-examined
In an effort to rein in exploding college costs, President Barack Obama’s administration is applying pressure to universities with the oldest trick in the textbook: grades. Using criteria such as tuition, graduation rates and the percentage of students receiving Pell grants, among other factors, the administration intends to make a scorecard for each university that […]
Ryan Nelson: UCLA can help educate community by expanding medical marijuana research
In my other life outside of the offices of the Daily Bruin, I spend a lot of time at the various pools owned by UCLA. On Monday, I was scheduled to guard a water aerobics class at the school’s rehabilitation pool in Westwood. Imagine my surprise when, as opposed to conversations about the minutiae of […]
Ryan Nelson: Centralized approach for Take Back UC would aid in success of movement
When a group of unions and other organizations interested in reforming the University of California decided they needed a new tactic, they did what they do best: collectivize. Last Wednesday, Take Back UC, a campaign dedicated to bringing together reform groups from across California and push for institutional change in the University, went live. The […]
Ryan Nelson: Take initiative, research all options to pay off student loans
Taking out federal student loans is a lot like orderingfood at a fast-food establishment.It seems like a great option at the time, but very soon after you end up paying for your decision. But even after grace periods fade away and the impoverishing effects of student loans begin to kick in, there are concrete steps […]