USC and China in the News, July and August 2007

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July 4, 2007: China Economic Review 

A story featured the USC U.S.-China Institute. The institute¹s primary objective "is to become the place scholars, policy makers, students, government officials and journalists worldwide turn to for cutting-edge social science research on significant questions and long-term trends related to U.S.-China relations," USC Provost C.L. Max Nikias said.

July 13, 2007: Copley News Service 

Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School was quoted about the economic dynamics of China. Recent incidents of contaminated or defective goods from China being imported into the U.S. have raised concern, the story noted. As a developing country, China suffers from a lack of government oversight over its sprawling manufacturing industry, Chen said.

"The problem is that the country is so big, and the country has been in poverty for so long everybody tries to maximize the profit and minimize the cost," he said. The recent problems with some goods shouldn't be viewed as reflective of all Chinese products, Chen said.

August 7, 2007: Los Angeles Times

"By boosting our academic and research collaborations involving China, USC will better prepare our students ‹ both domestic and international ‹ for life and work in a global society," USC President Steven B. Sample said. The university currently enrolls more than 1,500 Chinese students, more than any other U.S. university, and counts more than 3,000 Chinese graduates among its alumni, the article reported. In addition, in 1978 USC became the first American university to send representatives to China following the re-establishment of relations between the U.S. and China, the story stated.

Aug. 14, 2007: Newsweek

Stephen Krashen, professor emeritus of the USC Rossier School, was quoted about the rising popularity of learning English in China. While the number of non-speakers learning Mandarin is also increasing, that number pales in comparison with the number of Chinese speakers learning English, the story stated. "The impression is that ŒMandarin fever¹ is rampant and spreading, but a close look shows this is an exaggeration," Krashen said.

"The dominance of English as an international language is growing."

Aug 19, 2007: South China Morning Post (China)

A story featured a biennale conceived by Qingyun Ma, dean of the USC School of Architecture and founder of Shanghai architectural firm MADA s.p.a.m. The joint exhibition, to be held in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China, will feature futuristic ideas for the development of the two cities. Today's buildings are using materials that were used 2,000 years ago, Ma said. The focus should be placed on developing recyclable building materials so that cities may be regenerated, he explained. How much have we invested in the technology of regeneration?

Aug 20, 2007: The Courier-Journal

That is where we are lacking, Ma said. The biennale will feature works by renowned architects like Stefano Boeri and USC alumnus Frank Gehry, the article noted. A story in The Courier-Journal also highlighted Ma and the biennale.

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