USC should engage in city’s bike culture


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Los Angeles might have a notorious reputation as a driving city, but the city closed some of its roads Sunday in order to make room for vehicles that don’t guzzle gas. The occasion was CicLAvia, a semi-annual public festival designed to transform the congested, polluted streets of Los Angeles into a safe place to walk, […]

Talking points mislead students


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In this year’s presidential campaign, President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney have embraced familiar scapegoats for America’s stagnated economic growth — Obama singled out big oil subsidies in last week’s debate and in August, Romney promised to eliminate all government funding of Amtrak. Both are examples of popular partisan talking points that […]

Reparative therapy cannot be justified


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Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law last week banning California parents from subjecting children with homosexual feelings to reparative therapy — or, as it is more colloquially known, “praying away the gay.” In response, critics have taken up arms against the ban, calling it an infringement on religious liberties. Despite the fundamental importance of religious […]

Community role must be upheld


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Essential to any top-tier university’s success is a positive public image. And essential to any positive public image is philanthropy, outreach and public service. USC accomplishes all three of these through its Good Neighbors Campaign. The fundraiser, held annually each October, supports university-community partnerships such as Troy Camp and the Community Health Fair. This year’s […]

Calorie counts will mislead consumers


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Last week, McDonald’s became the first major fast-food chain to post calorie contents on all drive-thru and in-store menus. The change is a result of growing waistlines and, consequently, public officials’ and media outlets’ condemnation one of the world’s largest and most popular calorie producers. It’s happening everywhere: In the past year, New York City […]

US must uphold citizens’ rights abroad


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This upcoming term, the Supreme Court will be trying its hand at international law. People around the world will be watching the United States’ highest court as the justices decide whether foreign victims of human rights abuses will be able to seek civil redress for their grievances in U.S. courts. But cases of human rights […]

How did Univision’s interviews affect Obama and Romney?


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Last week, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney spoke separately on the Spanish-language television channel Univision to address issues regarding the Latino community and, of course, to attempt to woo Latino voters. Obama’s failure to follow through on plans for immigration reform during his first term was highlighted in the Univision forum. Moderator Jorge […]