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 1/30/2013
ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV featured the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and philanthropist Glorya Kaufman. The USC Kaufman School is the first new endowment-funded school to be created at the university in nearly 40 years. “I think dance is from the heart and soul. It brings people together,” Kaufman said. “It is so important not just for USC but for the city of Los Angeles, because this is a major commitment to train dancers here,” said USC Thornton School Dean Robert Cutietta, who will be the inaugural dean of the new dance school.
The Chronicle of Higher Education featured a study by Jerome Lucido of the USC Rossier School about the NFL as a model for college admissions reform. “Our colleges are engaged in an unbridled, no-holds-barred competition — one that places them in constant danger of valuing prestige and ranking over mission attainment; market position over educational results,” Lucido said. He suggested forming a league of member institutions that agree to common admission goals and practices, as well as the sharing of resources. Inside Higher Ed also featured the study.
Los Angeles Times featured research by Shrikanth Narayanan, Krishna Nayak, Michael Proctor of the USC Viterbi School, Dani Byrd of the USC Dornsife College, and USC student Erik Bresch, who studied human beatboxing with an MRI scanner. The goal of the work is to learn more about the mechanics behind the rhythms. The research was also featured by Smithsonian and Inside Science News Service.
Press Trust of India (India) featured research by Hanna Costa Damasio and Antoine Bechara of the USC Dornsife College and colleagues on brain areas related to addiction. The study focused particularly on subjects addicted to smoking. “This is something that we’ve all been working on, trying to find the target in the brain that you could hit and cause somebody to stop smoking,” Bechara said. The study was also featured by Asian News International and LiveScience.
The Plain Dealer featured research by Wei-An “Andy” Lee of the Keck School of USC on how geospatial video can help inform patients at his urban clinic in Los Angeles. Using geospatial maps, doctors can learn what a patient’s immediate neighborhood is like, and then make healthful recommendations based on that information. “Along with a patient’s medical and family history, what I’d like to see is your spatial history,” Lee said. “By looking at that throughout time, how does that influence your health?” Andrew Curtis, now at Kent State University, also conducted research in this area while he was a USC faculty member.
L.A. Weekly featured an event held by Visions and Voices: The USC Arts & Humanities Initiative, featuring Trimpin, an artist who combines music with apps and robots. His use of technology includes deconstructed instruments and an app that allows the artist to control his instruments remotely. “My work reflects on the philosophy of giving something a new life,” Trimpin said.
Los Angeles ran a Q&A with USC alumnus Matt White, who is writing an article about late USC alumna Claudene Christian, a former USC Song Girl who passed away during Hurricane Sandy. The story highlighted the iconic quality of the USC Song Girls. “USC’s extended community — alumni, boosters, etcetera — identify strong with the school’s icon and don’t like them to change,” White said. “The Song Girls still stand at attention, move with the same discipline, and wear the same sweaters they did 30 or 40 years ago.”
The Wall Street Journal quoted Edward Lawler of the USC Marshall School about financial transparency in corporate workplaces.
The Washington Post, in a Bloomberg News story, quoted Jonathan Taplin of the USC Annenberg School about Super Bowl ad campaigns.
Los Angeles Times quoted Elizabeth Currid-Halkett of the USC Price School, author of “Starstruck: The Business of Celebrity,” on why fans collect autographs.
NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV interviewed Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the USC Price School about the L.A. mayoral candidates. KNBC-TV aired two more interviews with Jeffe (second link here).
Reuters quoted Manuel Pastor of the USC Dornsife College about “birthing tourism” in Southern California.
CBS Radio Los Angeles affiliate KNX-AM interviewed Niels Frenzen of the USC Gould School about an immigration reform bill proposed by members of Congress.
CBS Radio Los Angeles affiliate KNX-AM interviewed Niels Frenzen of the USC Gould School about President Obama’s immigration reform proposal.
The Huffington Post cited the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll finding that Latinos were more worried about the environment than were white respondents.
ZDNet reported that Peter Cardon of the USC Marshall School discussed social media and business at a recent conference.
Odessa American ran a column by Susan Estrich of the USC Gould School about women serving in military combat.
OCMetro mentioned that the USC Marshall School was included in rankings of Southern California business schools.
KPCC-FM mentioned that newly appointed Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara is a USC alumnus.
FishbowlLA highlighted USC alumnus and former Neon Tommy editor Ryan Faughnder, who named as his mentors Gabriel Kahn and Alan Mittelstaedt of the USC Annenberg School.
Los Angeles mentioned that the research collective L.A. as Subject is hosted by USC Libraries. The story also ran a photo from the USC Libraries archives.