Political conventions take an unconventional turn, thanks to COVID-19
What will the Democratic and Republican national conventions look like during a pandemic? USC experts predict how each party — and the voters — will proceed.
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USC experts reflect on 100 years of women’s suffrage
With the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s ratification approaching, USC professors share their thoughts on the state of voting rights in 2020.
Fall 2020 update: A message to the Trojan Family from President Carol L. Folt
The USC president shares words of welcome along with academic and activity highlights, health care updates, student and community aid information, initiatives on diversity and inclusion, and much more.
What’s ahead for the U.S. economy after the pandemic? President Folt and Dean Garrett discuss
USC Marshall’s new dean, Geoffrey Garrett, sits down for a conversation with President Carol L. Folt — and COVID-19 isn’t far from their minds.
Chess pro teaches students to master the game — and their minds
Seasoned chess champ Jack Peters teaches USC students critical thinking, decision-making strategy and history lessons through the 1,500-year-old board game.
USA Today
TikTok and privacy: What’s the problem?
USC Annenberg’s Karen North told her two teenage kids they could have any app on their phones, with one exception: the widely popular TikTok. Her reason: “Their data is being mined, and the company doesn’t have to adhere to our privacy laws.”
Inside Higher Ed
Why Black students might prefer online learning
Many Black students experience microaggressions and sterotyping in traditional classrooms, says Shaun Harper of the USC Race and Equity Center: “It very well could be that some Black Americans view virtual classrooms as spaces where they might encounter less anti-Blackness.”
KABC-TV
How to protect your children from cybercrime as online learning resumes
When using apps for school or testing for sports, many people dont’ realize that a main revenue source for those digital platforms is collecting data on users and selling it, USC Annenberg’s Karen North notes.
Fast Company
Working moms always battled shame — the pandemic just made it worse
Combining responsibilities at work with caregiving, working mothers are experiencing growing shame for not living up to anyone’s expectations — including their own, notes USC Bovard College’s Tiffany Danko and colleagues.
Inside Higher Ed
Convincing college students to practice social distancing
Institutions have to empathize with what students are being asked to give up, says Sarah Van Orman, chief health officer for USC Student Health: “These measures themselves are not without consequences: disrupted education, emotional and social isolation.”
The Washington Post
Amid COVID-19, the eyes have it: Here’s how to safely apply makeup these days
Make sure to honor expiration dates so your cosmetics are not harboring bacteria and wash your brushes on a regular basis, says Nada Elbuluk, a dermatologist with Keck Medicine of USC. And, of course, wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face.
The Washington Post
What persuades Southerners to take down Confederate symbols? Hearing it’s good for business
Many in the South have come to see Confederate symbols as economic liabilities, according to an analysis by USC Dornsife’s Christian Grose and a college. One example: This year Mississippi’s Economic Council chamber of commerce backed removal of the Confederate emblem from the state’s flag.
The New York Times
How skateboarding can help fight racism
Research at USC by Zoë Corwin and Neftalie Williams found that skateboarding is how many young skaters first come in contact with the police or security guards — and it may lead to their first questions about who gets to use public space and why.
Today
When are you most fertile? How to tell when you’re more likely to get pregnant
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or trying to make sure you don’t, Director Richard Paulson of USC Fertility says that understanding a few fertility basics is key.
CalMatters
How to bridge the digital divide: Take action to give everyone broadband access
It’s the only way to resolve the disparity in which 1 in 5 California students lack computers and Wi-Fi, argues Martha Escutia, USC vice president of government relations.
The Hill
Amid COVID-19, states need practical solutions to address health care costs
The pandemic will further exacerbate already strained state budgets, particularly as millions of Americans shift from commercial insurance to Medicaid, writes USC’s John O’Brien in an op-ed. That shift puts the onus on states to find savings without cutting benefits.
Los Angeles Times
How should L.A. be redesigned for coronavirus?
COVID-19 has changed everything about the way we live; it is bound to change architecture, too. And while many architects agree that needs L.A. to move forward on increasing density, Dean Milton Curry of the USC School of Architecture says, “We need to do it smartly.”
USC Gould launches reading program for first-year law students
The groups aim to help incoming students build a sense of community within themselves as well as with faculty.
USC scientists identify the order of COVID-19’s symptoms
Knowing which symptoms appear first will help doctors identify COVID-19 patients sooner and make better treatment decisions.
Physics field trip for middle schoolers turns into online festival, giving kids a glimpse into a scientist’s life
COVID-19 can’t stop a popular annual science outing run by USC physics and astronomy experts for curious and enthusiastic local teens.
Illuminating what home means for a global community of Filipinos
USC Dornsife historian and poet Adrian De Leon traces the histories of the Filipino diaspora across continents all the while exploring the meaning of home.
Partnership expands career horizons for people with disabilities
USC Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy and Ethics supports scholars with mental health challenges by partnering with national mentorship program.
David Eggenschwiler, 83, longtime English instructor known for his energetic teaching style and wit
Known affectionately by his students as “the Eggman,” the USC Dornsife emeritus associate professor was widely appreciated for his talent, dedication, energy and enthusiasm — qualities for which he was recognized with awards for teaching excellence.
The belief that demons have sex with humans runs deep in Christian and Jewish traditions
Accounts of demon sex go as far back as the Book of Genesis, a USC scholar of early Christianity notes.
Student group showcases AI projects for social good
As the student branch of the USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, CAIS++ members reinforce AI’s role in helping to solve societal problems.
Food provides students with a passport to Los Angeles culture
A USC Dornsife class uses food as a vehicle for understanding the diversity, traditions and history of one of the world’s culinary hot spots — even during COVID-19.
How have people responded to pandemics throughout history?
Through their research on plagues dating back to the late 19th century, USC Dornsife historians have discovered striking parallels between the coronavirus and previous outbreaks.
4 tips to help kids to cope with COVID-19 anxiety
A USC psychiatrist and psychiatry professor has tips on how parents can teach children to embrace the power all of us have – and then use it to make choices that create better outcomes.
USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn comments on fall sports’ postponement
The Pac-12 Conference on Tuesday announced the postponement of all sports competitions through the end of the calendar year.
Aspiring product designers’ and creators’ Zoom pitch sessions go virtual
USC Iovine and Young Academy seniors usually exhibit their final projects in a showcase to classmates and faculty. But thanks to the pandemic — and Zoom — they ended up pitching the fruits of their hard labor to alumni and industry pros.
USC community fund distributes critical resources to neighbors in need
More than $81,000 has been awarded to community programs that support local families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study finds strengths, challenges in high schools’ college-prep model
Class rigor and college bureaucracies are common obstacles, research from USC Rossier’s Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice finds.
Effie Turnbull Sanders named VP of civic engagement and economic partnerships
The community leader brings more than two decades of experience advancing the rights of underserved Los Angeles communities.
This year’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books to be held online
The event — the nation’s largest literary and cultural festival — traditionally draws more than 150,000 people to the USC University Park Campus.
USC-trained epidemiologist leads COVID-19 contact tracing efforts in New York City
“Disease detective” Neil Vora is helping the Big Apple prevent a coronavirus resurgence by quickly identifying and controlling new cases.
USC scientist receives fellowship for underrepresented minorities in biomedical research
Ebony Flowers has already received three fellowships as a postdoctoral fellow at USC, including her latest from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program.
From the Italian Renaissance to the stars, an exciting approach to fulfilling GEs
Two new USC Dornsife general education courses offer students a richer, broader way to learn and to acquire diverse academic skills.
Predicting drought in the American West just got much more difficult
A new, USC-led study of more than 1,000 years of North American droughts and global conditions found that forecasting a lack of precipitation is rarely straightforward.
Steven Grossman named cancer physician in chief of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
The renowned oncologist and cancer researcher will join USC in this newly created position in September.
Four incoming freshmen share their stories of perseverance
A quartet of new Trojans discuss how they overcame personal challenges and found themselves heading to USC.
Climate change could make toxic algal blooms even more deadly
Research funded by USC Sea Grant has found that these increasingly toxic blooms can poison marine mammals and contaminate seafood.