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 9/8 to 9/10/2012
ABC News’ “Good Morning America” featured research by Victoria Cortessis of the Keck School of USC and a colleague, finding that young men with certain types of testicular cancer were more likely to have smoked marijuana. In the study of 455 Californian men, those who smoked marijuana were twice as likely to develop the cancer. “Testicular cancer is on the rise,” Cortessis said. Daily Mail (U.K.) reported that the study found men with a history of cocaine use had lower testicular cancer rates. “If this is correct, then ‘prevention’ would come at a high price,” Cortessis said. The research was also covered by CBS News, NBC News, Australian Associated Press (Australia), ABC Radio (Australia), News Limited (Australia), Il Giorno (Italy), HealthDay News, Asian News International, The Sun (U.K.), two stories in The Huffington Post (second link here), California Watch, SmartPlanet, CBS News San Francisco affiliate KPIX-TV and NBC News Minneapolis affiliate KARE-TV.
Los Angeles Times highlighted a USC support program for transfer and military veteran students, established last year to help both groups navigate their new academic environment. This fall, the program added seminars on time management, internships and jobs. “We try to help these students find a niche,” said Syreeta Greene, USC assistant director of Transfer and Veteran Student Programs. The story also highlighted a USC transfer student group.
Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed by Diane Winston of the USC Annenberg School about religion’s role in the 2012 election. She noted that religious appeals played a vital role in mobilizing voters in the ’80s, and still drive many voters’ decisions. “Religious labels may be passé, but the religious values that inform who’s taxed, what’s regulated, how jobs are created and when or where we help those in need are more important than ever,” Winston wrote.
The New York Times reported that T.C. Boyle of the USC Dornsife College has a new novel coming out. Houston Chronicle reported that Boyle will read from the book, “San Miguel,” as part of the Margarett Root Brown Reading Series. The story noted that earlier this year, Boyle gave his archive — 43 boxes of drafts, letters, rejection slips and more — to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The Columbus Dispatch also highlighted Boyle’s book.
L.A. Weekly featured the event “The Underground: From the Streets to the Stage,” part of Visions and Voices: The USC Arts & Humanities Initiative. The exhibition of krumping — a form of street dance documented in the 2005 film “Rize” — was held at Bovard Auditorium, though krumping was developed in the neighborhoods around USC. Marquisa “Miss Prissy” Gardner, one of the dancers who organized the event, told the audience that bringing the performance into the theater was significant, giving the dance form legitimacy.
Forbes ran a column by Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School on how iPhones are made, and what it would take to manufacture them in the United States. Chen wrote that iPhones could be made in America using 3-D printers. Chen noted that Behrokh Khoshnevis of the USC Viterbi School has proposed building houses with a giant 3-D printer. “The widespread use of 3D printing technology in manufacturing could lead to de-globalization of manufactured goods,” Chen wrote. He added that the manufacturing jobs of the 20th century will not be coming back; instead, there will be increased demand for engineers, designers and intellectual property lawyers.
Scientific American highlighted research by Jacquelyn Morie of USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies on the impact of immersive technologies and virtual worlds. Role playing in immersive environments like Second Life are natural, and even healthy, Morie said. “Our identity shifts all the time and every day, morphing and evolving based on what we are doing now.”
The Washington Post quoted Richard Thompson of the USC Dornsife College about frequent health warnings desensitizing people to various dangers.
Reuters quoted Edward Kleinbard of the USC Gould School about vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s proposed tax plan.
NPR News San Diego affiliate KPBS-FM ran interviews with Kevin Starr and William Deverell of the USC Dornsife College in “Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times,” a documentary about the Chandler publishing family.
U-T San Diego quoted Diane Winston of the USC Annenberg School about religion’s role in the 2012 election.
CBS News Harlingen, Texas, affiliate KGBT-TV quoted James Tom of the Ostrow School of USC about the risks faced by dental patients with Treacher-Collins Syndrome.
NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV interviewed Steven Ross of the USC Dornsife College about Hollywood mogul Louis B. Mayer, who Ross profiled in “Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics.”
The Arizona Republic quoted David Carter of the USC Marshall School about the benefits of a new stadium for sports teams.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that “Lunch,” a documentary about Sid Caesar and his fellow comedy writers, will be screened at the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Comedy@SCA festival.
Los Angeles Times reported that Ambrose Akinmusire of the USC Thornton School will perform in the Angel City Jazz Festival.
C-SPAN reported that an essay by Lon Kurashige of the USC Dornsife College is included in the book “Colors of Confinement.”
Forbes mentioned that Los Angeles, which topped a list of cities with the happiest young professionals, is home to USC.
The Boston Globe mentioned a stage adaptation of “Tortilla Curtain,” a novel by T.C. Boyle of the USC Dornsife College.
La Opinion ran an op-ed by USC student Bertrand Perdomo-Ucles about his experience being a delegate at the Democratic National Convention.
The Coloradoan mentioned that “Tortilla Curtain” by T.C. Boyle of the USC Dornsife College was among the past books featured by the Fort Collins Reads program.