University
LGBT Center to Host Weekend Seminar
By Cristy Lytal on September 8, 2009 7:39 AM
The USC LGBT Resource Center is moving to the front lines of the civil rights battle against Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban that has in been in effect in California since the November 2008 election.
On Sept. 12 and 13, USC will host “Education and Empowerment for the Grassroots,” aka “Campaign Boot Camp.” Co-sponsored by the LGBT equal rights coalition OUT West, the event will teach effective strategies for campaigning to more than 200 leaders and activists from campus and the community.
“We’re working with several different local LGBT nonprofits, primarily Equality California and the Courage Campaign,” said Vincent Vigil, director of the USC LGBT Resource Center. “The different organizations are presenting, and basically it’s a weekend where they train people on how to work in political campaigns.”
The campaign boot camp will take place a few months before a decision will be made about moving forward on a 2010 ballot initiative to repeal Proposition 8.
“As we approach the next phase of our strategy to win back our fundamental rights, we remain committed to a progressive agenda that demands fairness and equality for all,” said Loch Powell, chair of OUT West. “The training’s offerings underscore the point that we all must be engaged in these efforts and that the next campaign will require the skills and dedication of everyone in our community.”
During the weekend, participants will learn skills such as finance strategies; field, political and online organizing; and communications.
For more information or to register for the convention, visit outwestcoalition.org/bootcamp
Latest University stories
- Ray Irani, Michael Waterman Elected to NAE February 10, 2012 10:35 AM
- MSW@USC Student to Compete in 2012 Paralympics February 10, 2012 9:22 AM
- USC Price School Celebrates Naming Gift February 9, 2012 2:45 PM
-
For Journalists »
-
USC in the News
for 2/10/2012 »-
The Wall Street Journal highlighted 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.
KPCC-FM reported that this fall USC will offer Persian language courses for the first time. A $250,000 grant from the Farhang Foundation helped to establish the program. Bruce Zuckerman of the USC Dornsife College said he has many students interested in the Persian language, culture and region. “The Iranian region is one that has great impact on our lives today and has had great impact going back into ancient times,” he said. The story noted that USC and the Farhang Foundation hope to raise more money to create an Iranian studies minor. Payvand also featured the new courses.
American Songwriter ran a Q&A with Christopher Sampson of the USC Thornton School about the school’s Popular Music program, which Sampson founded. He noted that the program has been available as a major in Songwriting since 2009, and has incorporated a diverse range of musical genres. “We have now established a consistent track record of students having professional success to know that the program gets results,” Sampson said. He also highlighted the achievements of Songwriting faculty members Lamont Dozier, Andrea Stolpe and David Poe of the Thornton School.
The Economist featured research by Valter Longo of the USC Davis School finding that short periods of fasting could help cancer patients better tolerate chemotherapy, and may even make treatment more effective. The Globe and Mail (Canada) reported that cancerous tumors are essentially energy hogs. “They need to burn lots of energy just to stay alive,” Longo said. The study was also covered by Irish Independent (Ireland), Magyar Tavirati Iroda (Hungary), Anadolu Ajansi (Turkey), Son Haber (Netherlands), Vietnam+ (Vietnam), Turkish Radio and Television (Turkey) and Romania Libera (Romania).
L.A. Weekly featured research by USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, which has developed video games based around physical movement for people recovering from strokes or other injuries. The games develop strength in specific body parts. Traditional video games weren’t right for these patients, said the institute’s Belinda Lange. “Often, the fun parts of the game would only be unlocked after a series of other levels, which our patients often couldn’t achieve,” she said. The games are now being tested with physical therapists in three major clinics.
-
-
Campus News
- Capital Connections
- USC faculty, staff and alumni in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento
- In Print
- New and recent books written or edited by USC faculty and staff
- Family Matters
- Achievements and awards
- Obituaries