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 2/8/2013
Los Angeles Business covered GLIMPSE, a showcase of digital technology at USC, and noted that Princeton Review has given USC the title of No. 1 video game school three years running. “We’re trying to get games taken seriously,” said USC School of Cinematic Arts Dean Elizabeth Daley. The story highlighted the recent dedication of the Sumner M. Redstone Production Building, following a $10 million gift from media magnate Sumner Redstone; and a $5 million gift by USC alumnus and director Bryan Singer to name the school’s Bryan Singer Division of Critical Studies. Gameranx covered GLIMPSE and the Project Holodeck virtual reality gaming system developed at the USC Games Institute, which is run jointly by the USC Viterbi School and the USC School of Cinematic Arts. VG24/7 covered Project Holodeck.
The New York Times reviewed an exhibition at the Jewish Museum by Sharon Lockhart of the USC Roski School. The work includes a film installation and photos of abstract shapes. The films are based on the dance techniques of Israeli choreographer Noa Eshkol; the shapes are used as instruments for teaching a system of body movement. The review called Lockhart’s show “exceptionally handsome, meditative and, at times, mesmerizing.”
The Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed by Seth Seabury of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics and colleagues, about “defensive medicine” — extra tests and procedures ordered to reduce the threat of malpractice litigation. “The medical-malpractice system is dysfunctional in many ways that harm both physicians and patients, and there is a limited association between litigation and the quality of patient care,” Seabury and colleagues wrote.
The Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed by George Street, staff writer at USC’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture, about the history of Pentecostalism in Los Angeles. “At a time of rapid urbanization and social upheaval, Pentecostalism’s promise of supernatural power and healing made it a popular remedy for the forms of soul sickness that afflicted many people in early 20th-century L.A.,” Street wrote.
The Washington Post, in an Associated Press story, featured research by Amytis Towfighi of the Keck School of USC finding that depressed stroke survivors face a higher risk of early death. The study, which also found that one in 12 stroke survivors thought about suicide, was discussed at the American Stroke Association conference yesterday. “It’s not necessarily active suicidal thoughts with a plan, but perhaps wishing you hadn’t survived the event,” Towfighi said. The study was also covered by The Inquisitr, GlobalPost, RedOrbit and Science Codex.
Variety featured the dedication ceremony for the Sumner M. Redstone Production Building at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, which was attended by USC President C. L. Max Nikias, media magnate Sumner Redstone, USC alumnus George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg. “If I’m being introduced by George Lucas, I must be doing something right,” Redstone said.
CNN ran a column by Edward McCaffery of the USC Gould School about marginal tax rates on the working poor. He noted that some low-income taxpayers face rates approaching 90 percent as they lose welfare benefits; this has an adverse affect on marriage and home lives. “Politicians on both the left and right criticize the poor for not having more stable marriages, but they conveniently ignore the simple but brutal fact that the poor cannot afford to marry,” McCaffery said.
KPCC-FM highlighted research by Nicole Bender, Penina Segall-Gutierrez, Sandy Najera, Frank Stanczyk, Martin Montoro and Daniel Mishell of the Keck School of USC about Type 2 diabetes. Their study found that healthy, obese, reproductive-age women using long-term reversible contraception may have a slightly higher risk of developing the illness. The study was also covered by QMI Agency (Canada) and ScienceDaily.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Jody Agius Vallejo of the USC Dornsife College about social mobility among Latinos.
Morning Sentinel quoted Lawrence Picus of the USC Rossier School about a review of Maine’s funding formula for schools.
Vanity Fair mentioned a potential partnership between USC and Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. The story also quoted Selma Holo of the USC Dornsife College, director of the USC Fisher Museum of Art, about MOCA.
Los Angeles Daily News reported that Verdugo Hills Hospital and the Keck Medical Center of USC have begun merger discussions.
Truthdig ran a column by Bill Boyarsky of the USC Annenberg School about the role of diversity in the Los Angeles mayoral race.
Truthdig ran a column by Richard Reeves of the USC Annenberg School on whether former New York Mayor Ed Koch could have become president.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that Korean Air Chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho is a USC Trustee.
Polygon mentioned USC alumnus Corey May, writer for the video game series “Assassin’s Creed,” and the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Peter Stark Producing Program. Polygon also noted that members of indie game developer thatgamecompany studied in the school’s Interactive Media Division.
KCET-TV ran an op-ed by USC Annenberg School graduate student George Villanueva on how post-Katrina New Orleans inspired civic engagement.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that Colombian pop star Juanes performed at USC this week at “Grammy in the Schools Live! — A Celebration of Music & Education.”
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.