No one complains about this creative outlet for medical students
In fact, most are telling editors Brooke LaDuca and Rachel Scheuring that the current issues of The Chief Complaint are among the best ever.
The newspaper/literary magazine/creative outlet that has been a tradition for USC School of Medicine students since 1994 is published quarterly. "It's not easy," admitted Scheuring, noting that most Complaint deadlines are close to exam time. "But we get such good feedback, that it seems students really want to see the issues."
Although the circulation is small (600, distributed mostly in and around School of Medicine buildings), the Complaint has a long reach - a noirish serial that appeared in the Complaint , written by medical student Jeremy Goodman about a medical investigator doctor (named Trent Marker) won the short story competition of the Americal Medical Students Association last year.
"It's a wonderful creative outlet for students," says LaDuca, noting that Chief Complaint is short on news stories but long on literary pieces, photographs and personal updates on class members. "We fill a vaccuum," added Scheuring, who calls Cheif Complaint a "general interest magazine." "Many students love to do the literary work, to contribute pieces. Brooke and I do some of the writing, as well."
That's not to say the magazine has no news. Scheuring, who was a television reporter and news anchor before entering medical school, tracked down rumors that fitness personality Richard Simmons was applying to the USC School of Medicine for a recent issue, and editorials discuss many of the issues facing students on campus. "It's one way students have for voicing their concerns," noted Scheuring. "We'd like to see more discussion, more opinion pieces."
The publication is put together on medical school computers, using PageMaker and a lot of volunteer "staph" members, said Scheuring. The publication's budget was cut this year, and with just enough money for printing, "we're doing some of this out of pocket," said LaDuca.
"We'll continue to publish no matter what," LaDuca vowed. "But it wouldn't hurt to get a little help."
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Los Angeles ran an op-ed by Bill Deverell of the USC College about looking to the past in order to move on to the future. “You can do better, Los Angeles. You’ve heard it before: admonishment from the lecture hall pulpit or the pages of a book or magazine. History matters. You should pay closer attention,” Deverell wrote. “The history of Los Angeles reflects and illuminates American and world history all at once. With a little effort, something powerful happens: historical sensibility provides perspective on the here and now. Who wouldn’t want that?” The column is the first in a series for the magazine’s new CityThink section, L.A. Observed reported.
SoCal Minds featured the USC Good Neighbors Campaign, in which USC faculty and staff donate money for programs benefiting the neighborhoods surrounding the USC campus. The program was launched under the direction of USC President Steven B. Sample in reaction to the Los Angeles riots, the story noted. The campaign raised a record-breaking $1.2 million in donations this past year, despite tough economic times, the article stated. The story reported that several university units had 100 percent participation, including the USC Rossier School, KUSC-FM, the USC Fisher Museum of Art, the Office of the Treasurer, the Office of the Senior Vice President, Administration, the Health Sciences Libraries and USCard Services.
CNN cited research conducted by Adam Rose of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development for USC’s Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. Rose’s study found that the standard economic costs of the 9/11 attacks, estimated at $25 billion, were exceeded by the costs of behavioral reactions far from the site of the attack (for example, an additional $85 billion due to a decrease in demand for air travel).
Variety reported that the 22nd annual USC Libraries Scripter Award was given to “Up in the Air” novelist Walter Kirn and to USC alumnus Jason Reitman and Shelton Turner, who adapted Kirn’s book for the screen. In his acceptance speech, Reitman noted that his father, Ivan Reitman, used USC’s Doheny Memorial Library as a stand-in for the New York Public Library in “Ghostbusters.” The Wrap noted that Catherine Quinlan, dean of USC Libraries, emceed the ceremony.
National Public Radio’s “13.7” ran a commentary by K.C. Cole of the USC Annenberg School about the role of science in diplomacy. “We all know that the technology produced from scientific research can make international conflicts more deadly than ever. But can science help stop war?” Cole said. She mentioned that she recently took part in a USC Center on Public Diplomacy conference on science diplomacy and the prevention of conflict.
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