Each year, USC programs and faculty research are highlighted in print, broadcast and online stories throughout the world. Highlights of recent news coverage are compiled by USC Media Relations.
USC in the News 5/2/2012
Featured Stories
Los Angeles Times reported that USC alumnus Wilfred "Fred" Uytengsu donated $8 million to fund USC's new Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The gift is the largest ever made to the USC Athletic Department by a former student-athlete. Uytengsu, who graduated in 1983, asked that the aquatic center's main swimming pool be named for his former coach, Peter Daland. "I look back at my learnings and experiences at USC with fond memories and realize how many life lessons came from my education there," Uytengsu said. The new facility will include a dive tower, a diving dry-land training area, coaches' offices, a stadium seating up to 2,500 people, a shade structure, and more. The news was also covered by Associated Press, ESPN and KPCC-FM.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that USC has hired Steve Kay, dean of the UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences, to be dean of the USC Dornsife College. USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett wrote that while at UC San Diego, Kay led a large, dynamic academic division including nearly 6,000 undergraduate biology majors, several hundred graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and faculty spanning four major departments. "As an academic leader, Dr. Kay has demonstrated a commitment to faculty excellence, recruiting exceptional new faculty members to the division including department chairs and center directors, members of the National Academy of Scientists, and many other distinguished and productive researchers," Garrett wrote. Kay oversaw the creation of four significant new research centers at UC San Diego. The San Diego Union-Tribune mentioned the hiring in a second story.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted "Playground," a social platform for school-age students developed by the USC Annenberg School's Innovation Lab. The platform is designed to teach Internet literacy. That means teaching children about the implications of privacy, the permanence of a Web footprint, and online manners. "Kids are always going to find a back door for communication and collaboration," said Erin Reilly of the Annenberg School.
The Vancouver Sun (Canada) highlighted a new book by Jacques Hymans of the USC Dornsife College about the ability of authoritarian states like Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Hymans writes that in regimes like Iran's, the ability to develop nuclear weapons is hampered by the climate of coercion by which authority is maintained.
L.A. Observed ran a column by Bill Boyarsky of the USC Annenberg School on USC's From the Ashes conference, which reexamined the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles. More than 400 people attended the event, organized by Manuel Pastor of the USC Dornsife College and his colleagues in the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity. "The USC conference brought [people] together in a way that could have a strong impact in the next decades on Los Angeles' race relations, economic growth and cultural life," Boyarsky wrote.
The Korea Times (South Korea) reported that Jae Jung of the Keck School of USC received the 2012 Ho-Am Prize in Medicine, often referred to as the Korean equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Jung was recognized for his research in molecular biology.
Experts Quoted
KQED-FM interviewed Edward Kleinbard of the USC Gould School about Apple's legal tax shelters.
The Fiscal Times quoted Edward Kleinbard of the USC Gould School about a 1986 tax reform act.
News at a Glance
Los Angeles Times covered a proposed lease between the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and USC.
Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed mentioning USC's transcript policies.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that the new Expo Line light-rail stops at USC.
The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that Tom Jackiewicz is senior vice president and chief executive of USC Health.
Visalia-Times Delta mentioned that Allan Kotin of the USC Price School will be interviewed on PBS News Fresno, Calif., affiliate KVPT-TV about California redevelopment.