USC Media and Public Relations

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The New York Times ran an op-ed by Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College about President Obama’s handling of gasoline prices and perception among voters. Schnur wrote that a recent USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll found California voters are dissatisfied with President Obama’s handling of the cost of gasoline. Schnur added that Obama has attempted to walk a thin line on the issue, recently calling for increased exploration along the Atlantic Coast but not for drilling. “This is the energy policy equivalent of admitting to an experiment with marijuana but not inhaling,” Schnur wrote.

Los Angeles Times featured events that will take place during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. In one Q&A, writer Robert Kirkman will discuss his work on graphic novels like “The Walking Dead” at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. The festival will also include a screening of the documentary “With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story” at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Los Angeles Times featured a USC study finding that the U.S. pays more for cancer care, but patients also live longer on average after diagnosis. NPR reported that the research found American cancer patients survive longer after diagnosis than those in Europe. The study was co-authored by Darius Lakdawalla and John Romley of the USC Price School, Tomas Philipson of the Schaeffer Center of Health Policy and Economics at USC, and colleagues. The study was also covered by Reuters and HealthDay News.

KPCC-FM featured a new cancer treatment developed at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by Nora Heisterkamp of the Keck School of USC and colleagues. The treatment, described as a fusion toxin that specifically targets cancer cells, could be an option for patients who have become resistant to chemotherapy. “Although we have made tremendous progress in the treatment of leukemia, Dr. Heisterkamp and her colleagues’ research into drug-resistant disease fills a crucial need,” said D. Brent Polk of the Keck School.

Daily Breeze featured the John McKay Center, a new state-of-the-art athletic center under construction at USC. The 110,000-square-foot center is expected to be completed in time for the opening of fall camp. The facility will include a 90-yard AstroTurf field and a 40-yard AstroTurf field. “We hope when this thing is done we’re 10 years ahead,” said Mark Jackson, senior associate athletic director.

PC Magazine featured work by Daniel Lidar of the USC Viterbi School and Zhihui Wang of the USC Dornsife College, on a quantum computer built using subatomic flaws in a diamond. It uses microwave pulses to reduce “decoherence,” noise that prevents the computer from functioning properly. The research was also covered by Los Angeles Daily News, International Business Times, ZDNet and Agenzia Giornalistica Italia (Italy).

The Huffington Post ran a column by Martin Kaplan of the USC Annenberg School stating that Mitt Romney has an advantage in that swing voters don’t follow politics too closely. They won’t challenge Romney on any shifts in position, Kaplan wrote.

FishbowlLA reported that USC Annenberg School student Eric Burse has been named the Student Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. Burse, who currently works at the “Daily Trojan” and Annenberg TV News, will be honored at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in New Orleans on June 23.