Ryan M. Allen
@politicsanded.bsky.social
Associate Professor, @SokaUniv.
Topics: International ed, higher ed, China, Urbanism, We Ruined Our Own Cities" file.
Long-form: CollegeTowns.org
Topics: International ed, higher ed, China, Urbanism, We Ruined Our Own Cities" file.
Long-form: CollegeTowns.org
Pinned
Buying a Dying College Isn't a Real Estate Investment
The saga of Rider U and Westminster Choir College show the complications of dying colleges as real estate assets.
www.collegetowns.org
Dying colleges are not mere real estate investments. Rider U found out this the hard way, and it might sink them now.
My latest:
www.collegetowns.org/p/buying-a-d...
My latest:
www.collegetowns.org/p/buying-a-d...
Dying colleges are not mere real estate investments. Rider U found out this the hard way, and it might sink them now.
My latest:
www.collegetowns.org/p/buying-a-d...
My latest:
www.collegetowns.org/p/buying-a-d...
Buying a Dying College Isn't a Real Estate Investment
The saga of Rider U and Westminster Choir College show the complications of dying colleges as real estate assets.
www.collegetowns.org
December 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Dying colleges are not mere real estate investments. Rider U found out this the hard way, and it might sink them now.
My latest:
www.collegetowns.org/p/buying-a-d...
My latest:
www.collegetowns.org/p/buying-a-d...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
Train over traffic this Christmas.
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Train over traffic this Christmas.
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
Anyone else watching Physical: Asia? Really fun sports competition reality show. It’s like a mini Olympics Squid Game combo. I wrote about it here and also the connection to colleges: www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
December 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Anyone else watching Physical: Asia? Really fun sports competition reality show. It’s like a mini Olympics Squid Game combo. I wrote about it here and also the connection to colleges: www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
The holiday train beats traffic everywhere
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The holiday train beats traffic everywhere
Train over traffic this Christmas.
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Train over traffic this Christmas.
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
🚈🏙️🎄🎅🏻
Pacific U and Willamette U are merging. But they landed on a terrible name: University of the Northwest.
Should go with the University of Pacific Northwest, lean into the specific and distinct region. www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
Should go with the University of Pacific Northwest, lean into the specific and distinct region. www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
December 16, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Pacific U and Willamette U are merging. But they landed on a terrible name: University of the Northwest.
Should go with the University of Pacific Northwest, lean into the specific and distinct region. www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
Should go with the University of Pacific Northwest, lean into the specific and distinct region. www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
New York has Pizza Rat, California has Citrus Squirrel.
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
New York has Pizza Rat, California has Citrus Squirrel.
New York has Pizza Rat, California has Citrus Squirrel.
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
New York has Pizza Rat, California has Citrus Squirrel.
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
We should react with the same disgust when we see someone using their phone while sitting at a traffic light.
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
December 14, 2025 at 11:53 PM
We should react with the same disgust when we see someone using their phone while sitting at a traffic light.
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
We should react with the same disgust when we see someone using their phone while sitting at a traffic light.
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
December 14, 2025 at 11:53 PM
We should react with the same disgust when we see someone using their phone while sitting at a traffic light.
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
Using your phone while driving is akin to picking your nose. Drivers should feel shame for it.
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
December 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Using your phone while driving is akin to picking your nose. Drivers should feel shame for it.
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
Using your phone while driving is akin to picking your nose. Drivers should feel shame for it.
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
December 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Using your phone while driving is akin to picking your nose. Drivers should feel shame for it.
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
I make the case using the classic Seinfeld Christmas episode 'The Pick'
www.collegetowns.org/p/shame-bad-...
My top articles from College Towns in 2025.
Subscribe today for more urbanism meets higher ed in 2026. www.collegetowns.org/archive?sort...
Subscribe today for more urbanism meets higher ed in 2026. www.collegetowns.org/archive?sort...
December 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
My top articles from College Towns in 2025.
Subscribe today for more urbanism meets higher ed in 2026. www.collegetowns.org/archive?sort...
Subscribe today for more urbanism meets higher ed in 2026. www.collegetowns.org/archive?sort...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
RIP to Sterling College in Vermont. Looks like a nice little place. Going away now. www.collegetowns.org/p/china-will...
November 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
RIP to Sterling College in Vermont. Looks like a nice little place. Going away now. www.collegetowns.org/p/china-will...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
Late to this series but WOW - Ryan Lewis of @calmatters.org with a gutting investigation of how California's DMV has refused to remove dangerous drivers from the road.
calmatters.org/series/licen...
calmatters.org/series/licen...
December 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Late to this series but WOW - Ryan Lewis of @calmatters.org with a gutting investigation of how California's DMV has refused to remove dangerous drivers from the road.
calmatters.org/series/licen...
calmatters.org/series/licen...
It's crazy that small service vehicles are like some mythical relic in the US that only exists from shipwrecked sailors to exotic lands. www.collegetowns.org/p/service-ve...
December 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
It's crazy that small service vehicles are like some mythical relic in the US that only exists from shipwrecked sailors to exotic lands. www.collegetowns.org/p/service-ve...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
December 1.
www.collegetowns.org/p/celebratin...
www.collegetowns.org/p/celebratin...
December 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM
December 1.
www.collegetowns.org/p/celebratin...
www.collegetowns.org/p/celebratin...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
We have officially run out of ideas for Christmas movies.
December 9, 2025 at 3:09 AM
We have officially run out of ideas for Christmas movies.
We have officially run out of ideas for Christmas movies.
December 9, 2025 at 3:09 AM
We have officially run out of ideas for Christmas movies.
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
“Everything about this space is basically for cars, and not for people walking, and certainly not for little boys walking to school.”
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
December 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“Everything about this space is basically for cars, and not for people walking, and certainly not for little boys walking to school.”
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
I've heard local officials make exactly this point by blaming drunkenness after a drunk driver killed a pedestrian where there had been calls for safer infrastructure.
It serves as CYA for culpable decision makers who control our infrastructure.
Although, parents in pickup lines are culpable too.
It serves as CYA for culpable decision makers who control our infrastructure.
Although, parents in pickup lines are culpable too.
December 7, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I've heard local officials make exactly this point by blaming drunkenness after a drunk driver killed a pedestrian where there had been calls for safer infrastructure.
It serves as CYA for culpable decision makers who control our infrastructure.
Although, parents in pickup lines are culpable too.
It serves as CYA for culpable decision makers who control our infrastructure.
Although, parents in pickup lines are culpable too.
“Everything about this space is basically for cars, and not for people walking, and certainly not for little boys walking to school.”
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
December 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“Everything about this space is basically for cars, and not for people walking, and certainly not for little boys walking to school.”
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
We wonder why kids don't walk to school anymore. Well just look around. Everywhere is an afterthought to anyone outside of a car. www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
December 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
We wonder why kids don't walk to school anymore. Well just look around. Everywhere is an afterthought to anyone outside of a car. www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
We wonder why kids don't walk to school anymore. Well just look around. Everywhere is an afterthought to anyone outside of a car. www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
December 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
We wonder why kids don't walk to school anymore. Well just look around. Everywhere is an afterthought to anyone outside of a car. www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
Reposted by Ryan M. Allen
Why do parents tolerate terrible school car pickup lines? Because we have made walking anywhere dangerous to placate drivers.
A sad reality that hit my own community recently:
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
A sad reality that hit my own community recently:
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
Why Parents Tolerate Terrible School Car Pickup Lines
A tragedy strikes the my own community. We failed this boy and his family by placating drivers over everything else.
www.collegetowns.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Why do parents tolerate terrible school car pickup lines? Because we have made walking anywhere dangerous to placate drivers.
A sad reality that hit my own community recently:
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...
A sad reality that hit my own community recently:
www.collegetowns.org/p/why-parent...