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 10/13 to 10/15/2012
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an op-ed by Dan Simon of the USC Gould School about false convictions leading to the death penalty. He noted that 95 percent of felony convictions are consummated in plea bargains rather than in open court. “Not unlike in other walks of life, the bargains struck are determined primarily by the strength of the negotiators’ cards, which do not always correspond to the merits of their positions,” Simon wrote.
Times Higher Education (U.K.) featured the USC Global Conversation in London, covering a talk by former U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw about higher education. The Times (U.K.) interviewed USC alumna and Olympic medalist Rebecca Soni, who attended the event, about USC’s success at the Olympic Games. “At USC we compete for the Trojans,” Soni said. “It unifies us.”
The Times (U.K.) ran an op-ed by Mohammad Hashem Pesaran of the USC Dornsife College about a need to develop the financial sectors of emerging economies — like those in China and India — in order to prevent another financial crash. “More regulations and better monitoring of financial markets in the developed countries, while clearly needed, will not be sufficient in an integrated global economy where 50 percent of world output is produced by countries without any developed financial markets,” Pesaran wrote.
Bloomberg Businessweek ran a column by Warren Bennis of the USC Marshall School about the USC Marshall School’s new World Bachelor of Business (WBB) program, which lets students pursue their degrees at USC and two different international schools. Bennis noted that USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett, USC Marshall School Dean James Ellis and John Matsusaka of USC’s Initiative and Referendum Institute are wrapping up agreements with the two other schools, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Bocconi University in Milan. “WBB represents a unique approach to undergraduate education that global executives have been demanding for years, an approach that will prepare a new generation of leaders for the opportunities of an increasingly connected world,” Garrett said. “We thought this was the way to go, and we’re really trying to get a global mind-set at a very young age,” Matsusaka said. The story noted that Tyrone Callahan of the USC Marshall School was involved in designing the program.
Telemundo Los Angeles affiliate KVEA-TV covered Bridge to Health, a free health fair hosted by USC and White Memorial Hospital. Alison Reta of the USC School of Pharmacy said that diabetes control sessions, osteoporosis screenings and tests would be performed by USC School of Pharmacy students, who have a special tradition of service in the community. MundoFox Los Angeles affiliate KWHY-TV also covered the fair. USC Outreach Program Specialist Cesar Sanchez said that an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people were expected to attend the event. KVEA-TV ran a second story on the fair.
Voice of America highlighted USC in a story about increasing numbers of Chinese students studying in the United States. USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni said that while these students typically focus on engineering and the hard sciences, many are starting to major in business, education and film. “I think one of the trends we see with this generation is they’re really thinking about what they can learn here that will help them when they go back to China,” Soni said. “It’s really a more personal usage of what they get here and then use that technology, which may not exist or is at a lower level in China, to establish their own business and be supported by the government in doing so,” said Stanley Rosen of the USC Dornsife College.
The Huffington Post ran a column by Ron Avi Astor of the USC School of Social Work on ways to make universities military-friendly. Astor wrote that USC is part of a consortium partnership which gives teachers, principals, school social workers and other staff members background knowledge on military children, as well as practical, easy-to-implement programs. “By training a generation of professionals to understand military family culture, colleges and universities can make the academic-military divide a part of history,” he wrote.
KPCC-FM highlighted Richard Easterlin of the USC Dornsife College, suggesting that he would be a worthy candidate for the Nobel Prize in Economics. Easterlin is known for the “Easterlin paradox,” which suggests that as citizens of a country get richer, they don’t necessarily get happier.
Los Angeles Review of Books ran an op-ed by Aimee Bender of the USC Dornsife College about the enduring appeal of the fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast.” “That Beauty sees him for who he is, and is rewarded for that, makes this tale a classic that allows the internal to take time to reveal itself, a truth we surely recognize from our regular lives and loves,” Bender wrote. Bender teaches a USC class on fairy tales.
The Chronicle of Higher Education quoted Adrianna Kezar of the USC Rossier School about the two-track system in higher education, noting that she leads the Delphi Project, formed to develop new models for academia.
Los Angeles Times quoted Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College about redistricting reforms leading to competitive congressional races.
Al Jazeera interviewed Josh Lockman of the USC Gould School about tensions between Turkey and Syria.
CBS Radio interviewed Gordon Stables of the USC Annenberg School about the recent vice presidential debate.
Orlando Sentinel quoted Jody Agius Vallejo of the USC Dornsife College about race and identity.
The Christian Science Monitor quoted Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the USC Price School about the California initiative process.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College about the possibility of a lobbyist gift ban in California.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel quoted Lynne Casper of the USC Dornsife College about dual-income families.
L.A. Observed cited Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College about negative advertising in California politics.
San Jose Mercury News quoted Richard Green of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate and Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about the tax deduction for mortgage interest.
San Jose Mercury News quoted Richard Green of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate about the housing crash.
Post-Bulletin cited Warren Bennis of the USC Marshall School about the distinction between leaders and managers.
Pioneer Press cited Richard Easterlin of the USC Dornsife College on how the year of one’s birth affects lifetime earnings.
The Chronicle of Higher Education mentioned that director George Lucas is a USC alumnus.
The Washington Post, in an Associated Press story, mentioned that the League of Legends video game tournament was held at USC’s Galen Center. The story was also covered by The Denver Post and GameSpot.
Los Angeles Times mentioned the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll finding that a majority of Californian voters support Proposition 30, with very strong support among voters aged 19 to 29. Reuters reported that the poll found 66 percent of voters favoring Proposition 36.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that Martin Gomez of USC Libraries was formerly chief of the Los Angeles Public Library.
Ubergizmo covered a computerized car developed by the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the USC Center for Body Computing and BMW, which uses 230 sensors to log what happens inside the vehicle.
Winston-Salem Journal mentioned that Morten Lauridsen of the USC Thornton School helped create a choral music piece set to Spanish-language text.
InArkansas mentioned a lecture by Manuel Pastor of the USC Dornsife College, called “Pathways to Racial Healing and Equity in the American South: A Community Philanthropy Strategy.”
O.C. Weekly mentioned the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.
La Opinion mentioned a workshop on higher education and attending USC, organized by the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles.
CNET included USC in a list of universities whose students download content from the Internet.
LAist reported that actor James Franco will teach a film production class at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
CNBC’s “Mad Money” mentioned that actor Bryan Cranston visited the USC Dornsife College’s Department of Chemistry to prepare for his role as chemistry teacher Walter White on “Breaking Bad.”
L.A. Weekly mentioned that the USC Trojan Marching Band performed at the opening of a Target store in downtown Los Angeles.
Advocate mentioned that USC was the venue for Models of Pride, a conference for gay and lesbian youth and young adults.
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.
The Record ran a story by the California HealthCare Foundation Center for Health Reporting, which is spearheaded by the USC Annenberg School.