In Memoriam: C. Sylvester Whitaker, 73
- C. Sylvester Whitaker
December 11, 2008 11:17 AM
C. Sylvester Whitaker Jr., professor emeritus of political science and former dean of social sciences at USC College, died Nov. 29 in Waterville, Maine, following a struggle with cancer. He was 73.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and graduate of Swarthmore College, Whitaker received a doctorate from Princeton University and became an expert in the political development of Africa. A noted analyst of comparative and international politics, his other research interests included multiethnic societies, transnationalism and international racial relations.
Whitaker lectured throughout the world, discussing African and Third World politics and economics.
A practicing Quaker and lifelong sports fan (particularly of his beloved USC Trojans and Pittsburgh Steelers), he also served as a professor and administrator at UCLA, Princeton University, and Rutgers University.
He is survived by his wife Shirley Whitaker; his sons Mark and Paul; two stepsons; two grandchildren; and his sister Cleo McCray.
According to his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes will be buried in a memorial service to be scheduled near his home in Canaan, Maine, in the spring.
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The Chronicle of Higher Education mentioned USC’s $6 billion fundraising campaign. The story noted that USC had already raised $1 billion in a “quiet phase,” including the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College.
The Guardian (U.K.) highlighted two major gifts to USC in a list of the 10 biggest philanthropic benefactors in America. The list included the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College, and the $110 million gift from USC Trustee and USC Viterbi School alumnus John Mork and wife Julie to create the USC Mork Family Scholars Program.
The New York Times featured the USC U.S.-China Institute documentary “Assignment: China — The Week that Changed the World.” The documentary, part of a series, examines media coverage of the 1972 Nixon trip that reshaped U.S.-China relations after a quarter century of isolation and hostility. “People look back now and take it for granted that the outcome was preordained,” said the institute’s Mike Chinoy, who produced the documentary. Voice of America also featured the story.
Los Angeles Times featured the Oscar Senti-meter, a tool developed by the USC Annenberg School, Los Angeles Times and IBM that analyzes thousands of tweets about the Academy Awards nominees. The story noted that Mexican actor Demian Bechir received an enormous boost on Twitter the day of the nominations, with a total of 6,893 tweets mentioning him, a 47-fold increase from the day before. The story noted the tool uses language-recognition technology developed in collaboration with USC Viterbi School’s Signal Analysis and Interpretation Lab.
The Times of India (India) featured a three-day medical emergency training workshop organized in association with USC. At the workshop, held at GCS Medical College in India, 50 doctors and more than 100 paramedics learned how to improve emergency support systems. William Mallon of the Keck School of USC said that discussion topics included the use of portable ultrasonic devices to scan patients. “The ultrasound applications help physicians make accurate and timely decisions,” he noted. Daily News & Analysis (India) also featured the workshop.
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