USC Global Conversation

How to create the next “long boom”?

Economists from both sides of the Atlantic found cause for guarded optimism on the global economy at the inaugural USC Global Conversation, October 9 in London. With a theme, “The Future of the Global Economy,” that at least presupposed its continued existence, speakers pointed to growth in developing countries and in a global knowledge economy as reasons for a rosier outlook. USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Garrett led off the discussion by noting the ways in which USC has been a global institution from the beginning: from its diverse entering class in 1880, to its leadership among American universities in enrolling international students, its location in a city that is “a microcosm for the world,” and its intense efforts to develop a global presence through international offices and classroom technologies that unite students from across the world.

Garrett opens USC Global Conversation

[caption id="attachment_423" align="alignright" width="226"] USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Garrett[/caption] Legal scholar and USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett welcomed a distinguished group of guests and panelists Monday, Oct. 8 to a USC Global Conversation event focused on lasting recovery during one of the deepest economic crises of the past century. With its theme as "The Future of the Global Economy," the October 9 panel discussion will gather leading economic experts from USC and the U.K. policy world, including keynote speaker The Right Honorable Jack Straw, Member of Parliament and former Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons under then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

London Trojans host USC visitors

Members of the USC Alumni Club of London welcomed guests and participants in the USC Global Conversation Sunday, Oct. 7 for a twilight river cruise on the Thames. The excursion brought together USC alumni in London, USC faculty and administrators in London for the Global Conversation, USC trustee Stanley Gold and distinguished Trojans swimmer Rebecca Soni '09, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and hurdler Tasha Danvers '02, Olympic medalist at the Beijing games. London alumni club presidents Jennifer and Walter Ladwig, '99 and '98 respectively, hosted the sightseeing trip. At right, Jennifer and Walter Ladwig welcomed record-setting Olympian and fellow Trojan Rebecca Soni to the USC Global Conversation with a sightseeing cruise for attendees on Sunday, Oct. 7.

Local Attractions Guide Available

The USC Alumni Club of London has compiled a free local attractions guide for visitors to London. Download a copy for your use.

USC, Harvard, Yale, tops list of U.S. schools for British college students

The Telegraph (U.K.) featured USC in a list of most popular American universities for British students. USC was listed at No. 3, after Harvard University and Yale University. The story noted that USC has more international students than any other U.S. university.

Trojan Olympian Rebecca Soni Joins USC in London

SPECIAL GUEST: Rebecca Soni '09

Trojan Olympian and Gold Medalist, 2012 Olympic Games Swimming champion Rebecca Soni is a world-record holder and gold medalist in two Olympics – Beijing and London. Her medal-count from the London Olympics weighed in at two golds (in 200-meter breaststroke and the 4x100-meter medley relay) and a silver (in the 100 meter breaststroke). She made history again in London, first setting a new world record of 2:20:00 in the 200 meter breaststroke semifinal, then promptly breaking her own new world record with a 2:19.59 in the final. She now has six career Olympic medals, three gold and three silver.

New Cultural and Networking Events Added

A three-day lineup of cultural and networking events—including an evening at the smash hit, Matilda the Musical; a traditional pub night, and cruise on the River Thames—have been confirmed for the USC Global Conversation. Limited seats are now available.

Special Alumni and Student Pricing Available

As a special service to USC alumni and current students, the following Global Conversation pricing is now available: $175 for alumni, $30 for students.

The Right Honorable Jack Straw, MP Announced as Keynote Speaker

Jack Straw, British Labour Member of Parliament and former UK Foreign and Home Secretary, will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural USC Global Conversation, to be held in London, England from October8-9, 2012.  Straw has been a member of Parliament (MP) for Blackburn since 1979. He served as Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001, Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair. From 2007 to 2010 he was the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and the Secretary of State for Justice, appointed as part of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's first Cabinet. Straw is one of only three people to have served in Cabinet continuously from 1997 to 2010.