USC Dornsife faculty, students and alumni feature prominently at this year’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. (Photos: David Sprague and Los Angeles Times.)

USC Dornsife faculty, students and alumni highlight annual book festival schedule

Originally scheduled for last spring but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Stories and Ideas takes place online over four weeks beginning Oct. 18. [1½ min read]

ByDarrin S. Joy October 12, 2020

The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Stories and Ideas celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Originally scheduled for spring on USC’s University Park campus, organizers postponed the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the interim, they “reimagined the festival as a communitywide virtual gathering,” according to their website, with more than two dozen free, virtual events scheduled across four weeks.

The gathering of authors, poets, celebrities, activists, politicians and scholars launches at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18, with a kick-off event featuring USC President Carol L. Folt and L.A. Times columnist Patt Morrison and President and COO Chris Argentieri. USC’s world famous Trojan Marching Band will also perform.

Following is a schedule of all events featuring USC Dornsife students, faculty and alumni.

USC Dornsife Faculty, Student and Alumni Schedule

TUESDAY, OCT. 20

5:30 p.m.

People Have the Power? Electoral Politics and Democracy

Moderator: Bob Shrum

Speakers: Jane Junn, John Matsusaka, Paul Adler

THURSDAY, OCT. 29

5 p.m.

Roots to Routes: Immigration and Race in L.A.

Moderator: William Deverell

Speakers: Juan De Lara, Manuel Pastor, Sara Gaultieri