Opinion + Voices

UCLA’s Lynn Vavreck writes in The New York Times that people’s opinions about abortion tend to converge when they’re asked to evaluate specific situations rather than simply express support or opposition.

History professor Robin D.G. Kelley writes that claiming rioters are sabotaging “legitimate” efforts to bring about racial and social justice mistakenly presupposes that “legitimate” efforts have been working.

Dean Marcelo M. Suárez-Orozco co-wrote a New York Times op-ed arguing that if the justice system recognized the humanity of undocumented immigrants it would benefit all of society.

Law professor Adam Winkler writes about the importance of Justice Kennedy, the relative value of precedent and the role of originalism, among other things to look out for during oral arguments about same-sex marriage.

UCLA law professor Stephen Bainbridge writes in the New York Times that when members of companies' boards of directors maximize shareholder value they are more accountable.

Gary Gates of the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law writes in an op-ed that data shows same-sex couples are far more likely to raise adopted or foster children.

In this piece for Zócalo, author Naomi Hirahara explains the history of the Los Angeles area recently designated by the city as “Sawtelle Japantown.”

Political science professor Michael Chwe writes about having his book “Rational Ritual,” which is about the popularization of knowledge, chosen by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as a book club selection.

Political scientist Steven Spiegel says that the best way to forge a lasting security agreement with Iran is by working with Iran’s potential victims to make a new treaty effective.

UCLA alumnus Robert Farrell writes about how desegregating a Houston coffee shop helped change America — and his life.

Kal Raustiala writes in an op-ed that the jury was incorrect and that copyright law is intended to create incentives for artists to produce new creative works, not ensure basic fairness.

UCLA’s Jody Heymann and Neal Baer co-author an op-ed that shows how far countries around the world have come in advancing equality and how far they still have to go.

Dr. Nina Shapiro looks at the progression of the anti-vaccination movement in upscale Los Angeles, and emphasizes how the conversation must shift from addressing non-immunization as a political issue to the health crisis it is.

Law professor Steven Bank proposes a compromise between Major League Soccer leadership and its players union that is inspired by how the University of California is structured.

A professor in the UCLA Anderson School writes that the ubiquitous and dreaded review discourages honesty and impedes personal improvement.

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris writes in an op-ed that design of California’s high-speed railway stations should incorporate the communities around the transit stops.

Law professor writes that as union membership decreases and the use of contractors and temporary workers increases, it’s not just employees who lose, but also employers.

Allyson Nadia Field writes about how 100 years ago the racist film inspired black filmmakers to respond and that the film still resonates because the country still grapples with achieving racial justice.

The research director at UCLA’s Center X writes that teacher training could learn from doctor training by adopting residency programs that combine university instruction and field-based learning.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block writes in a Los Angeles Times op-ed that President Obama’s proposal to make two years of community college free is a bold step to equalize opportunity for all.

Professor Alain Mabanckou writes that the recent police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner show that much work remains to create an America worthy of the vision of African American artists and leaders of generations ago.

Anthropology professor Alan Page Fiske writes in an op-ed that the ‘Charlie Hebdo’ attackers, like so many people who use violence, probably thought they were acting righteously.

A UCLA psychologist and her sister explain why Disney struck billion-dollar gold with Elsa, Anna and ‘Let It Go.’

Olga Kagan says that offering language classes tailored for heritage speakers, who speak a language other than English at home but may not be able to read it, would have significant advantages for society.

UCLA’s Laure Murat writes that for at least several centuries people have ascribed acts of terror to madness, often to advance political agendas.