USC Media and Public Relations

The New York Times reported that philanthropist Glorya Kaufman has made a generous gift to establish the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, the first new endowment-funded school to be created at USC in nearly 40 years. The donation will build the school and fund programs, faculty and scholarships. “Our ambition is to make the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance the most elite on the West Coast and in the Pacific Rim,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. The story noted that USC has the most international students of any U.S. university, for the 11th consecutive year.

The New York Times ran an op-ed written by Dana Goldman of the USC Price School and the USC School of Pharmacy. Goldman and colleagues wrote that the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act may be too small to be successful. “Greater competition in the insurance industry — either through health insurance exchanges or other measures — may not lower insurance premiums,” they wrote. “Weakening insurers’ bargaining power could instead translate into higher costs for all of us in the form of higher premiums.”

Voice of America noted that USC has the most international students of any U.S. university, for the 11th consecutive year. Tony Tambascia, USC associate dean for student affairs and executive director of the Office of International Services, said that international diversity has been an institutional commitment at USC for a long time. More than 115 countries are represented in USC’s student body, and that diversity helps define what an education at the university is, the story stated. “It’s a benefit to those students and all those from around the U.S. who attend here,” Tambascia said. “Domestic students are increasingly telling us they see a benefit in interacting with international students.”

CNN ran an op-ed by Gillian Hadfield of the USC Gould School about the need for authorized non-lawyers and organizations to provide legal advice to the masses. “Imagine how much more efficient the court would be if the unrepresented could obtain low-cost legal assistance from people expert enough to help them navigate the process. Especially if those people were using the systems and protocols developed by a large-scale company, maybe even online,” Hadfield wrote.

MundoFox noted that USC student Suemy Gonzales and her group Trio Ellas were nominated for a Latin Grammy. Their album “Con Ustedes ... Trio Ellas” was produced by Andy Abad of the USC Thornton School, with artwork by USC student Matias Mora. Abad said that there’s a real future for young Latinos who want to be artists, musicians, producers and composers. Gonzales studies vocals and violin in the USC Thornton School’s Popular Music Program.

The New York Times quoted Kevin Starr of the USC Dornsife College about the historical role of newspapers in California.

The Washington Post, in an Associated Press story, quoted Costas Synolakis of the USC Viterbi School about the tsunami risk faced by West Coast ports.

NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV interviewed Ira Kalb of the USC Marshall School about consumers using apps to find holiday bargains.

KPCC-FM interviewed Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the USC Price School about the political risks Gov. Jerry Brown might face if he tweaked Proposition 13.

KPCC-FM interviewed Ira Kalb of the USC Marshall School about the economic benefits of quirky roadside attractions like the world’s tallest thermometer.

The Washington Post noted that U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis is a USC alumna.

Terra (Peru) ran a photo of Sen. John McCain at the inaugural symposium of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.

KPCC-FM ran a column by Steve Proffitt of the USC Annenberg School about the days before Thanksgiving.

Business Insider ran a column by Ira Kalb of the USC Marshall School about Cyber Monday.

Xinhua News Agency (China) mentioned the deaths of two USC students.

Voice of America mentioned that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is a USC alumnus.

Yahoo! News mentioned that filmmaker and USC alumnus George Lucas tapped his former USC film professor, USC alumnus Irvin Kershner, to direct “The Empire Strikes Back.”