Unruh in the News
Immigration reform: no longer so controversial, but not inevitable either
by Jewish Journal
April 25, 2013
When Jesse Gabriel, an alumnus from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ New Leaders Project, explained why he and two other members of the 2012 cohort decided to host a discussion of immigration reform on April 23, he said they selected the topic precisely “because we know it’s so divisive.” But Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the first speaker on Tuesday evening, immediately challenged the assertion. Read more>
Students, experts discuss immigration reform policy
by Daily Trojan
April 3rd, 2013
Panelists urged bipartisan compromise on immigration reform during Wednesday’s weekly Students Talk Back.
The discussion, moderated by Dornsife’s Jesse M. Unruh Director Dan Schnur and Daily Trojan News Editor Yasmeen Serhan, began with a broad immigration overview by panelists. The panel, held in The Forum at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center, was presented in partnership with the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute and the Bedrosian Center on Governance and Public Enterprise. Read more>
Former ethics chief would ban fundraising while California lawmakers work
by Torey Van Oot
March 25, 2013
The concept of banning California lawmakers from fundraising while they're at work has a new cheerleader: a former head of the state's political watchdog agency. Dan Schnur, a former Republican political consultant who served as chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, is launching a new effort to prohibit state legislators and statewide officers from raising cash when the Legislature is in session. Read more>
Schnur seeks Calif. fundraising reform
by Daily Trojan
March 25, 2013
Fifteen states, including Texas and Florida, have put rules on the books banning political contributions while their state legislatures are in session. Now, Dan Schnur, director of USC’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, is looking to add California’s name to the list. Read more>
Panelists discuss impact of immigration
by Daily Trojan
March 13, 2013
A panel of students and faculty shared their personal perspectives concerning issues affecting the United States’ Hispanic population on Wednesday as part of the weekly “Students Talk Back” series. Read more>
Experts, students analyze city primary election results
by Daily Trojan
March 6, 2013
With Tuesday’s Los Angeles mayoral primary over, runoff candidates Councilmember Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel must seek endorsements, experts said during a weekly political panel on Wednesday in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Read more>
Former DC schools chancellor Michelle Rhee joins growing list of donors to local school board race
by KPCC (Southern California Public Radio)
February 20, 2013
Add former Washington, D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee to the list of out of towners weighing in on the LAUSD school board race--financially speaking. Rhee was in town for a panel discussion at the University of Southern California, where she announced a $250,000 donation to a PAC supporting charter-friendly candidates, the Coalition for School Reform. Read More>
Talk Back tackles Cal education
by Daily Trojan
February 20, 2013
A panel that included former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools and StudentsFirst founder Michelle Rhee took a close look at some of the biggest problems facing education in the Golden State and also considered viable solutions to a system that ranks among the lowest in the nation. Read more>
Students react to State of the Union
by Daily Trojan
February 12, 2013
Approximately 100 students packed the east lobby of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on Tuesday night for a live viewing of President Obama’s State of the Union address. Students of all political leanings gathered to watch as the president listed his legislative agenda before the 113th Congress. Read More>
Profesionales Aconsejan a Futuras Líderes en California
by La Opinión
February 10, 2013
Desde que tenía ocho años, Melissa Núñez supo que ella quería postularse para un puesto político porque siempre le ha gustado ser líder. Es por ello que se prepara asistiendo a conferencias, talleres y eventos que la ayuden a convertirse en la líder política que quiere llegar a ser. Read more>
USC Interns Contribute to Los Angeles Mayoral Campaigns
by Daily Trojan
January 31, 2013
Despite the end of the 2012 presidential election, many of USC’s more politically minded students have chosen to continue in their campaigning efforts, this time on a local scale in the 2013 Los Angeles mayoral race. Read more>
Students and Politicians Discuss State of the Union
by Daily Trojan
January 23, 2013
As the celebratory hype surrounding the president’s second inauguration gradually quieted down, a panel of experts — two former state legislators and two politically active students — gathered Wednesday in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center Forum to speculate how President Barack Obama will address major policy issues in his final term. Read more>
Poll Shows Issues for Fiscal Cliff
by Daily Trojan
November 19, 2012
With six weeks left for politicians in Washington to steer the nation from the fiscal cliff-- drastic tax increases and spending cuts that would take effect in January-- a new USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Poll reflects some of the difficulties they might face during negotiations. Read more>
USC Unruh Institute Hosts Panel Of Top Obama And Romney Advisers
by Neon Tommy
November 15, 2012
The USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics held a panel Thursday night on the USC campus with top advisers from the Obama and Romney campaigns along with the presidents of the USC Trojans for Obama and Romney groups. Read more>
Top campaign aides, students dissect election
by Daily Trojan
November 15, 2012
With the 2012 presidential election over, students, faculty and alumni dined Thursday night over a post-election panel discussion with top campaign strategists and student organizers at the Davidson Conference Center. Read more>
State Affairs
by Daily Trojan
November 7, 2012
Former California Gov. Gray Davis shared his opinions about California’s future and current standing in the wake of the election as part of a panel at a “Road to the White House” event Tuesday. Read more>
Viewing Party Draws Hundreds
by Kristen Hernandez, Yasmeen Serhan, and Adrienne Visani
November 7, 2012
It takes a rare event to attract more than 500 students to the courtyard outside the Ronald Tutor Campus Center on a Tuesday evening. The 2012 presidential election did just that.
Students from across the political spectrum, many of whom voted for the first time this November, gathered around a giant screen to watch the results come in live on CNN. Read more>
Photos | Casting Ballot Photos
Students call voters to up poll turnout
by Yasmeen Serhan
November 7, 2012
Students from both sides of the aisle came together Tuesday in a final match-up to take part in a phone banking competition in the Annenberg East Lobby for the final day of the election.
The competition, sponsored by USC College Democrats, USC College Republicans and the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, aimed at motivating and encouraging voters to turn out on Election Day through phone calls. Read more>
Five of the Most Confusing Ballots in the Country
by Suevon Lee
November 6, 2012
When voters finally get to the polls tomorrow, they may run into more than a big crowd. Voters in many states will be facing a slew of confusing measures and often overly long ballots.
Here are some of the most striking examples we’ve spotted. Read more>
Election party caters to students
by Annalise Mantz
November 5, 2012
As the final day of the 2012 election cycle winds to a close Tuesday, students still have several opportunities to get politically involved.
Students registered to vote in Los Angeles can take advantage of free trams to each polling location. Additionally, Yellow Cab will offer free rides to anyone on their way to the polls with the code “LA Vote.” Read more>
Neon Tommy Dueling Op-Eds: Who Should You Vote For?
by Kayla Greenberg and Michael Bergsma
November 3, 2012
In the final installment of the "Political Perspectives" series, a member of the College Republicans and a member of the College Democrats offer their opinions on whether students should cast their ballots for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.
To read Why You Should Vote For Mitt Romney, click here.
To read Why You Should Vote For Barack Obama, click here.
Special tram route arranged for Election Day
by Andrew Good
October 31, 2012
The Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC is taking measures to ensure that students, faculty and the public can reach the polls with ease on Election Day. On Nov. 6, the institute, in partnership with USC Transportation, will run a free tram throughout the day, stopping at polling stations both on and off campus.
Panel dissects, analyzes Calif. propositions
by Adrienne Visani
October 30, 2012
A panel of student and professional experts discussed the content of the California Ballot Initatives and discussed the mechanics of proposition campaigns.
The event was hosted by the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics. Read more>
USC town hall dissects presidential campaign
by Matthew Kredell
October 29, 2012
The Athenian Society, the premier philanthropic support group for the USC Price School of Public Policy, held a town hall discussion on Oct. 24 focusing on key issues of the presidential election.
The panel featured Sherry Bebitch Jeffe and Dan Schnur. Conan Nolan moderated. Read more>
Women in the 2012 Election: A Bi-Partisan Perspective
Opinion, Neon Tommy
October 23, 2012
Good job, candidates! You’ve figured out that you need women to win the White House this November, and women are finally being discussed. Unfortunately, not in the right way. What now?
Both candidates have done their best to figure out the answer to the age-old question: “What do women want?” We (Madeline Lansky and Kaya Masler), as leaders of student organizations for our respective parties at the University of Southern California (USC) are here to break the shocking news to you - there is no universal answer to the question: “What do women want?” You’ll just have to get to know us. Read more>
Panelists analyze the role of women in 2012 election
by Chelsea Stone
October 23rd, 2012
A panel of women involved in politics discussed the varying role of gender in politics and in the upcoming presidential election in an event Tuesday night at the Davidson Conference Center.
The event was co-hosted by the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, California Women Lead, and the Women's Student Assembly. Read more>
Debate ranges from global to domestic policy
by Yasmeen Serhan
October 22, 2012
Students watched the third and final presidential debate in Annenberg East Lobby as part of an event hosted by the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy and the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.
A panel discussion featuring a mix of student and professional experts followed the debate. Read more>
Where are Obama and Romney on the Dropout Crisis and School Funding?
by Elias Kamal Jabbe
October 22, 2012
The panel "No Policy Left Behind? K-12 Education in the 2012 Campaign" discussed the two issues that Governor Romney and President Obama's campaigns have been neglecting to discuss regarding the current state of education.
The ultimate message of the panel was that everyone in the nation needs to think very carefully about the decisions they make at the polls in November, especially when it comes to education. Read more>
Neon Tommy Dueling Op-Eds: Are Obama's foreign policies effective?
by Kenny Gulley and Christian Patterson
October 17, 2012
In part three of the series "Political Perspectives," a member of the College Republicans and a member of the College Democrats offer their opinions on the President's foreign policy.
To read Obama's Effective Foreign Policies, click here.
To read Obama's Flawed Foreign Policies, click here.
Candidates clash in town hall debate
by Yasmeen Serhan
October 16th, 2012
Students gathered to watch President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney face off during the second president debate in Taper Hall on Tuesday night.
The screening, co-hosted by USC Annenberg's Center on Communication Leadership and Policy and the USC Unruh Institute of Politics, focused on foreign and domestic issues in a town hall setting. The screening was followed by a panel discussion. Read more>
Lively Biden-Ryan debate generates student reactions
by Jordyn Holman
October 11, 2012
Students watched the only 2012 vice-presidential debate screening between Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan on Thursday night in Taper Hall.
The debate, hosted by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and sponsored by the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, focused on foreign and domestic issues, such as the nuclear threat from Iran, the stagnant unemployment rate and abortion. Read more>
Annenberg Hosts Live Presidential Debate Screening
by Julia Deng, Annenberg TV News
October 4, 2012
USC Annenberg's Center on Communication Leadership and Policy joined the Unruh Institute of Politics to co-host a live screening of this election's first presidential debate.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dan Schnur, the director of the Unruh Institute of Politics. Aaron Taxy spoke for the USC College Democrats and Charles Epting represented the USC College Republicans during the discussion. Read more>
Dan Schnur: 'Two Good Solid Performances, But Nothing Transformative'
by Nandini Ruparel, Neon Tommy
October 3, 2012
The first presidential debate between candidate Mitt Romney and president Barack Obama has not changed much for either campaign, according to experts in the political science field.
"There was no extraordinary moment," said Dan Schnur, the director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute Politics at the University of Southern California, at a panel at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism after the debate. "[There were] two good solid performances, but nothing transformative." Read more>
First debate draws large USC audience
by Kristen Hernandez, Daily Trojan Online
October 3, 2012
More students than ever turned out to view the first debate of the 2012 presidential campaign and listen to the subsequent panel at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on Wednesday night, according to Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.
The debate was held at the University of Denver and moderated by former PBS news anchor Jim Lehrer. Both President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were eager to not only communicate their platforms, but to differentiate themselves. One of the central topics on which the candidates took different approaches was economic recovery. Read more>
New Poll Shows Drop in Prop. 30 Support
Daily Trojan Online
September 30, 2012
Support for Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s initiative to raise income taxes on the wealthy sales tax, has decreased since May, according to the latest USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll.
Fifty-five percent of registered voters reported support for the measure, down from 59 percent last May. The September poll shows that 36 percent oppose the initiative and 9 percent remain undecided. Read more>
Power of propaganda, from Nazi era to now
by Ryan Torok, Jewish Journal
September 27, 2012
“One man’s propaganda is another man’s fact,” writer Eli Attie told an audience of approximately 100 students and other guests gathered at the University of Southern California’s Doheny Memorial Library. They were gathered for the panel discussion “Mind Over Media: Politics, Propaganda and the Digital Age,” on Sept. 20.
Organized by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the panel explored how propaganda can be used as a force for political gain, taking the example of Nazi-ruled Germany, but continuing through the current United States presidential elections. Read more>
New poll finds voters split over pension changes
by Anthony York of PolitiCal, Los Angeles Times
September 27, 2012
Many California voters say the changes in the state pension system that Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed into law are enough, for now, to curb public employee retirement benefits, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll.
But those surveyed were divided on whether further action is needed. Read more>
Poll finds Prop. 37 is likely to pass
by Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
September 27, 2012
By more than a 2-to-1 margin, California voters favor an initiative to require food manufacturers and retailers to label fresh produce and processed foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients.
With less than six weeks until election day, Proposition 37 is supported by 61% of registered voters and opposed by 25%, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll. An additional 14% were undecided or refused to answer. Read more>
Foreign policy upstages economy on campaign trail
by Carla Marinucci, The Houston Chronicle
September 13, 2012
"The economy, stupid" was supposed to dominate the 2012 presidential race.
But anti-American sentiment is roiling much of Arab world this week, and debate is growing over how GOP nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have responded to the killings of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Libya.
Now, it seems, "Foreign policy, stupid" may share the stage until the Nov. 6 election. Read more>
Students gather for RNC speech
by Conrad Wilton, USC Daily Trojan
August 30, 2012
Nearly 100 students filled the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s lobby Thursday night to watch former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accept the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
A presentation and panel sponsored by the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics followed the speech. Thursday was the finale of a three-day convention featuring various party leaders and prominent party members, including Clint Eastwood. Read more>
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