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 9/21/2012
The Hollywood Reporter featured a $3 million gift to USC’s Center for Applied Molecular Medicine made by Viacom Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone. The gift will fund cancer research; Redstone has also made past donations to support cancer research at USC. The gift was announced at a charity benefit organized in part by Redstone’s doctor, David Agus of the Keck School of USC. “I’d be scared to death to be the cancer if Sumner Redstone were there,” Agus said. Redstone was treated for prostate cancer at USC roughly a decade ago. “Without that care I would not be here tonight,” he said.
Wired featured the Mosley Snowflake Sponge, a 3-D fractal object now being displayed at USC Libraries’ Doheny Memorial Library. The shape was discovered by engineer Jeannine Mosley, and USC Discovery Fellow Margaret Wertheim was enlisted to create the object. Several hundred volunteers folded 49,000 business cards to build the structure. “Not only are we building a mathematical object that’s never been made before, [but] it’s a huge challenge of engineering,” Wertheim said. The Snowflake Sponge will be on display through the end of the year.
The Atlantic featured research by Eric Rice of the USC School of Social Work finding that teens who practice “sexting” are more likely to engage in actual sex. “The same teens who are engaging in digital-sex risk-taking through sexting are also the same teens who are engaging in sex risk with their bodies in terms of being sexually active and not using condoms,” said Rice in a story cited in Deseret News. The research was also covered by Polish Press Agency (Poland), Libero (Italy), Notimex (Mexico), Europa Press (Spain), Nu (Netherlands), CNET and International Business Times.
South China Morning Post (China) featured the new World Bachelor in Business degree, an academic partnership among USC, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Bocconi University in Milan. Students in the program will study at all three universities over the course of three years, and then choose one of the schools at which to do their final year.
The Hollywood Reporter featured USC alumnus Stephen Chbosky, author of “Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Chbosky said that a lecture given at the USC School of Cinematic Arts by Stewart Stern, screenwriter for “Rebel Without a Cause,” inspired him to attend the university. “I decided then and there, that day, that I was going to go that school. I said, if this man is here, I will go here,” he said. Chbosky wrote a screenplay and has directed a film adaptation of his book.
Imperial Valley Press featured an immigrant integration scorecard created by USC’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. The scorecard rated different counties in California using metrics like economic advancement, school performance and how welcoming the region was. “We know that it is the time for immigrant integration in California and the nation at large,” said Vanessa Carter of the USC Dornsife College. She noted that immigrants contribute to 33 percent of California’s gross domestic product.
FishbowlLA featured the Daily Trojan’s centennial supplement, noting that former editors-in-chief of the 100-year-old student newspaper include Los Angeles Times employees Roger Smith and Kate Mather. Joe Saltzman of the USC Annenberg School was editor-in-chief during his student years, as was Scott Smith, USC associate director of student publications.
San Francisco Chronicle quoted David Carter of the USC Marshall School about the value of selling out of tickets for baseball game.
New Scientist quoted Michael Habib of the Keck School of USC about the evolution of birds versus reptilian gliders.
National Journal quoted Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College on what presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign needs to be successful.
Times Colonist (Canada) quoted Wendy Wood of the USC Dornsife College about habits.
The Fresno Bee quoted Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about Fresno’s relatively flat poverty rate.
KPCC-FM interviewed Robert Saltzman of the USC Gould School about the Los Angeles Police Department’s response to crowds and protests during a July ArtWalk.
Tampa Bay Times quoted David Carter of the USC Marshall School about an NHL lockout.
The Jerusalem Post (Israel) mentioned the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, highlighting its dedication to preserving Holocaust survivor testimonies and making them accessible to educators and the public.
Forbes mentioned data on employee and company behavior compiled by USC and other research institutions.
Voxxi covered research by Thomas Valente of the Keck School of USC and colleagues, finding that popular high school kids are more likely to smoke.
The Age (Australia) mentioned that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is a USC alumnus.
The Hollywood Reporter covered a memorial service for publicist Dale Olson, who donated an extensive show business memorabilia collection to USC.
KCET-TV noted that images for a story were provided by the USC Libraries and by L.A. as Subject, a research collective hosted by the USC Libraries.