March 31, 2016
Earlier this month, the USC Pacific Asia Museum celebrated the opening of its first major exhibition since the university announced its alliance with the venerable institution in Pasadena. The exhibit—which inspired a glowing piece in the Los Angeles Times—features extremely rare and exquisite artworks from the Ming dynasty, including jewelry, devotional statues, and porcelain. Many of these precious archeological finds have never been out of China until now, and this represents their only West Coast appearance. The opening reception drew USC Trustee Edward P. Roski and his wife, Gayle—the namesake of our Roski School of Art and Design—as well as Dr. Oi-Lin Chen and Dr. Tei-Fu Chen, who lent pieces from their personal collection for the exhibit. It runs through June 26 in Pasadena.
USC student wins Jeopardy! tournament
In February, our Trojan Family cheered for USC Dornsife junior Sam Deutsch, as he earned top honors during the Jeopardy College Championship. A political economy major, Mr. Deutsch interned on Capitol Hill for a Congressional representative in 2014, so the final Jeopardy! clue suited him perfectly: “During his Senate service, which lasted from 1973 to January 2009, this man cast 12,810 votes.” Mr. Deutsch’s correct response—Vice President Joe Biden—doubled his day’s winnings, and allowed him to become the first Trojan to claim the prestigious title since the tournament began in 1989. Fittingly, as he reveled in his win, a member of the show’s crew, USC alumna Sarah Whitcomb Foss, flashed him our familiar Trojan victory sign.
Cinematic Arts nurtures new voices
The week that the Academy Awards aired, and as so many discussions have arisen recently regarding diversity in the film industry, the International Business Times published a wonderful story on our School of Cinematic Arts, commenting on the strong diversity among the school’s students. The story noted that our alumnus George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson donated $10 million to provide scholarships for African-American and Hispanic students at USC. Their generous gift gives a strategic boost to our already diverse program, and is particularly timely. As digital technology evolves, new opportunities continue to appear, especially in areas such as virtual reality, and the school remains fully committed to preparing the next generation of students to answer these needs.
Philosophy’s natural home
USC Dornsife Professor Scott Soames published a keenly insightful and thought-provoking piece in The New York Times earlier this month. In it, he reflects on philosophy’s seminal place in the modern world. He argues that philosophy does not advance in isolation: rather, it informs other discussions and elevates other disciplines. In his analysis, Professor Soames champions philosophy’s natural fit with a university setting, pointing out that universities encourage collaboration among disciplines and spread teachings among all students. One of the world’s most eminent philosophers, Professor Soames joined the USC faculty in 2004, having previously taught at Princeton and Yale.
In memoriam
Moving to a more somber subject, in addition to President Emeritus Steven B. Sample, we note the passing of two exceptionally distinguished members of our Trojan Family in recent weeks. Our former provost, Elizabeth Garrett, who became the first female president of Cornell University last July, passed away on March 6, following a courageous battle with colon cancer. Before assuming her role at Cornell, Beth served on my senior leadership team for more than a decade. So many of us recall her boundless energy, her tenacious commitment to her work, and her deep passion for our community. She was only 52, and her early passing is a tremendous loss for higher education. We plan to celebrate Beth’s many accomplishments at a gathering on our University Park Campus on May 2.
We also mourned the passing of USC Trustee Alfred E. Mann, whose numerous contributions as an entrepreneur, innovator, and philanthropist were legendary. During the course of his distinguished career, he founded a remarkable 17 high technology companies, and the innovations these companies produced—from the first rechargeable pacemaker to an artificial retina—dramatically improved countless lives around the world. So many people are healthier, and live more fully, thanks to this extraordinary visionary. We will certainly miss him.
Festival of Books reminder
Before I close, I want to encourage you to attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, scheduled for April 9 and 10 on our University Park Campus. This year, our speakers include astronaut Buzz Aldrin and the celebrated writers Joyce Carol Oates and Jonathan Lethem, as well as many other authors, artists, and luminaries. It’s always a very special weekend at USC. Niki and I hope to see you among the crowd!
Yours truly,
C. L. Max Nikias
President