Faculty blast Rate My Professors story
Tomo Chien
October 30, 2025
Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m excited that this newsletter hit the 10,000-subscriber milestone.
You can read more about the newsletter, and what’s coming next for us, on LinkedIn. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
Readers had strong thoughts about our story that analyzed Rate My Professors rankings yesterday. “I am aghast at the blatant disregard for gender and racial biases that affect professor ratings,” wrote one professor. “This severe of an oversight is irresponsible journalism.” Read more comments from readers at the link below.
2.
Hundreds of USC nurses walked off the job this morning, protesting “dire” staffing levels that they say compromise patient safety and lead staff to miss rest breaks. USC said its healthcare facilities will operate as usual for the duration of the 24-hour strike.
3.
USC removed the locations of gender studies classrooms from online listings, including web registration, “out of an abundance of caution.” The school said it hasn’t received specific threats, but faculty and students in the department were concerned about “heightened rhetoric nationwide.”
4.
A USC student government senator is setting his sights on something bigger: a seat on the LA City Council. Moy Valdez, a senior political science student, said he wants to “challenge the establishment and fight against blatant corrupt practices.”
5.
Annenberg Media interviewed students about their favorite Halloween traditions. One said he likes the silly costumes. Another said she watches spooky movies. A third said he bakes with his mom. The season’s most important ritual, however, went conspicuously unmentioned: getting absolutely plastered at Rock’s.