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 5/30/2012
Featured Stories
Los Angeles Times featured the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll, which found that California voters still support Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hike proposal, despite increasing wariness over how the state would use that money. The poll reported that 59 percent of those surveyed would support the hikes, and that 36 percent opposed. When voters heard arguments against the plan — such as a suggestion that the state might waste the funds — support fell to 50 percent, and opposition rose to 42 percent. Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College said this could be a risk for the proposal. "Winning every registered Democrat in this state still doesn't get you across the finish line," he said. "[Brown] needs to win the independents to pull this off." The poll was also covered by Press Trust of India (India), The Daily Beast and L.A. Weekly.
Associated Press highlighted USC Hybrid High, a school for at-risk students being launched this fall by the USC Rossier School. The school will be open year-round, 12 hours a day and on weekends, so that students who work or care for children can attend. Richard Clark of the Rossier School said that studies show that students in computer-equipped classrooms learn better than those in traditional classrooms. MSNBC reported that the charter school's goal is a 100 percent graduation rate. "The commitment with USC is they put their name on it, so it matters and the success of the project matters," said Stephanie McClay, principal of USC Hybrid High.
LatinoLA featured the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative, an intensive college preparation program which helps students in the USC community. The program, which was established more than a decade ago, helps students get scholarships, grants and loans to attend the schools of their choice. Students in the program who go on to attend USC receive a full four-year scholarship.
Scientific American featured research by Scott Wiltermuth of the USC Marshall School on how synchronized physical activities can be manipulated to negative ends. Wiltermuth concluded that moving in sync makes people feel connected to others, but can lead to aggressive behavior. "We are doing things we wouldn't otherwise do, because we feel an emotional connection to our team," Wiltermuth said.
The Huffington Post ran an op-ed by Ange-Marie Hancock and Manuel Pastor of the USC Dornsife College about a recent vote to cut funding for the American Community Survey. They wrote that the survey "helps us fully comprehend one of the unspoken implications of becoming a 'majority-minority' nation — everyone will be a minority."
The Huffington Post highlighted research by Jonathan Samet and Sonny Patel of the Keck School of USC, finding that people who lived in areas impacted by the Chernobyl disaster experienced increased anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and cognitive impairment.
Experts Quoted
The New York Times cited Preston Marshall of the USC Viterbi School on how government agencies could use a database to regulate radio spectrum signals.
Los Angeles Times quoted Richard Green of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate about the housing market.
CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" interviewed Lisa Schweitzer of the USC Price School about California's high-speed rail project.
The Australian (Australia) quoted Daniel Lynch of the USC Dornsife College about China's stimulus plan.
China Central Television (China) interviewed Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about the American Community Survey.
Bloomberg News quoted David Carter of the USC Marshall School about the prominence of the Los Angeles Kings. Forbes also quoted Carter.
The Christian Science Monitor quoted Daniel Lynch of the USC Dornsife College about Chinese citizens becoming more familiar with foreigners.
The Sacramento Bee quoted Genevieve Giuliano of the USC Price School about congestion relief and Los Angeles rail projects.
KQED-FM's "The California Report" interviewed William Tierney of the USC Rossier School about retiring California State University Chancellor Charles Reed.
Current TV's "The War Room" interviewed Morley Winograd of the USC Annenberg School about millennials and the 2012 election.
News at a Glance
The New York Times mentioned that Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi is a USC alumnus.
ABC News stated that the recent USC Annenberg School commencement speech given by Maria Shriver was one of the best commencement speeches of 2012.
CBS News Los Angeles affiliate KCBS-TV featured Naj Meshkati of the USC Viterbi School, who has raised questions of safety along the new Expo Line. LAist and Curbed L.A. also ran stories.
The Sacramento Bee covered a live chat with Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College about Proposition 28, which would shorten the term limits of California legislators but allow them to serve their years in one house. A second story in The Sacramento Bee highlighted the chat.
Associated Press reported that Rudy Crew of the USC Rossier School is being considered for a position as Oregon's first chief education officer, overseeing the state's public universities, schools, community colleges and early childhood programs. The Oregonian also covered the story.
Business Insider ran a column by Ira Kalb of the USC Marshall School about companies targeting the wrong demographics with their ad dollars.
Truthdig ran a column by Larry Gross of the USC Annenberg School featuring a round-up of recent news.
Scientific American ran a column by USC student Edward Fischer about the USC Dornsife College's Guam and Palau Program. Scientific American also ran a column by USC student Santiago Fernandez-Barrera.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission approved a lease with USC. LAist also covered the story.
China Daily (China) ran a photo from a memorial for two USC students who were killed in April.
The Oregonian mentioned a grant from the Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism, a program of the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships administered by the USC Annenberg School.
Forbes noted that the ZBoard weight-sensing electric skateboard was originally developed as a student project at USC.
Houston Press mentioned that actor Will Ferrell is a USC alumnus.