2019 Archive

DC alumni club

Alumni club endows scholarship for D.C.-area students

December 17, 2019, Page Ivey

The DC Gamecocks are serious about celebrating their alma mater. They watch football games and participate in special events related to their days at the University of South Carolina. But, more recently, the alumni club, one of the larger ones outside of South Carolina, took on the goal of endowing a scholarship for students from the D.C. area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia.

coin

Front and center

December 16, 2019, Chris Horn

A former superintendent of West Point who served 43 years in the United States Army and retired as a lieutenant general, Bob Caslen is the University of South Carolina's 29th president. And he's keen to lead the state’s flagship public university into a new era.

Neema Patel and the Gibbs Family

Scholarship transforms heartbreak into hope

December 11, 2019, Margaret Gregory

In 2002, 8-year-old Wanda Gibbs died after being hit by a car at her bus stop. After her tragic passing, the community came together and launched a fundraising initiative to ensure Wanda’s memory would live on. Their efforts established the Wanda Gibbs Scholarship at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, which was awarded for the first time earlier this year.

piano professor phillip bush

5 questions with Phillip Bush

December 10, 2019, Dan Cook

While many of us were eyeing the end of the semester, University of South Carolina music professor Phillip Bush was eyeing his piano — gearing up for an early December trip to Paris, where he performed with acclaimed American composer Philip Glass.

A collage of items from the UofSC book store. A garnet South Carolina mug, a santa ornament, a snowman ornament, a black cap, a garnet, black and white striped beanie, a black replica football jersey and a grey t shirt that says

Gamecock gift guide

December 05, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel

There's something for everyone on your list this holiday season at the UofSC bookstore. Check out our selection of gamecock gear for some gift giving inspiration.

James Cutsinger

Professor helped students find the light within

December 02, 2019, Chris Horn

Not many professors inspire lofty tribute. Some we forget and others are scarcely remembered. James Cutsinger, a religious studies professor who taught at the university for 37 years, earned the respect and admiration of students for decades while helping them to achieve the most noble of goals: the ability to think.

women's soccer celebrating with the SEC championship trophy
women's soccer celebrating with the SEC championship trophy
women's soccer celebrating with the SEC championship trophy
women's soccer celebrating with the SEC championship trophy
women's soccer celebrating with the SEC championship trophy
Dr. Patterson and patient

UofSC center brings health care to those in need

November 20, 2019, Margaret Gregory

In South Carolina, a majority of the 46 counties are considered to be medically underserved. The South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare is working to improve access to quality care through training programs that are helping grow the health care workforce.

Kathy Carroll

Alumna takes reins as president of national school librarians association

November 11, 2019, Megan Sexton

School librarian Kathy Carroll likes to be in the middle of the action and that’s where she finds herself every day, whether it’s helping students at Westwood High School in Blythewood or advocating for her profession as president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians.

School counselor works with child using play therapy

Play therapy helps students express their experiences and feelings

November 07, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

In the 21 years that she’s been a school counselor, Elizabeth Balthazor has worked with children whose emotional – and sometimes physical – wounds run deep. Two-thirds of children report at least one traumatic event by 16 years old, and one in seven children are abused. Before she can help, Balthazor must figure out what’s wrong and that can be hard with children who don’t fully know how to verbalize their trauma.

brick path near Gibbes Green

First-generation students, faculty and alumni reflect on their college experiences

November 05, 2019

Attending college is a transformative experience, offering students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and experiences that lead them to a fuller life. We spoke to first-generation college students, faculty and alumni to learn about their experiences on campus and beyond.

John Doering-White

Meet new faculty: John Doering-White

November 04, 2019, Craig Brandhorst

John Doering-White became interested in immigration issues as an undergraduate and followed his research interests to Mexico as a graduate student. Now an associate professor at the University of South Carolina with a joint appointment in social work and anthropology, he hopes his research will contribute to the development of a more humane immigration system in the both the United States and Mexico.

James Ellroy

Student lands interview with acclaimed crime writer

October 29, 2019, Office of Communications and Public Affairs

In October, crime novelist James Ellroy visited the University of South Carolina for the 2019 Fall Literary Festival, sponsored by University Libraries and the English department. On his last day on campus, Ellroy sat down with junior English and theater major Susan Swavely for an interview at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ Kennedy Greenhouse Studio.

Juan Tellez

Meet new faculty: Juan Tellez

October 28, 2019, Chris Horn

For Juan Tellez, a new assistant professor of political science at the University of South Carolina, conflicts within countries and peace agreements associated with them aren’t merely an academic interest. The native Colombian saw first-hand what violent conflict can do to a country.

3 students holding a frame that says

Become a Homecoming hero

October 24, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel

Homecoming Week is a campuswide celebration with nightly events, service projects and more for students, faculty, staff and alumni. This year’s theme is “The Power of Garnet,” so grab your cape and mask and get ready for this action-packed week.

Skyline with the USC smoke stack and downtown Columbia buildings

Campus, city thrive together through decades of change

October 22, 2019, Communications and Public Affairs staff

From growth and innovation on campus to an increasingly bustling city life, the university and the city are thriving together in a symbiotic relationship. In many cases, it’s South Carolina alumni themselves who are leading change in the city as entrepreneurs and community leaders.

asphalt deterioration

Plotting a pothole-free future

October 21, 2019, Chris Horn

South Carolina's nearly 91,000 lane miles of pavement are deteriorating faster than ever, thanks to record numbers of cars and trucks on the road. Nathan Huynh doesn’t have a magic formula to fix the wear and tear, but he hopes to use his modeling skills to help the S.C. Department of Transportation develop a better statistical formula for predicting the long-term health of the Palmetto State’s pavement.

Warmly lit jack o'lantern sitting in grass on the Historic Horseshoe

It's spooky season in South Carolina

October 17, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel

We are just days away from Halloween, so it’s time to fully embrace everything pumpkin spice flavored and enjoy the fall festivities at UofSC. We've compiled a list of all of the fun and more importantly, free, spooky events going on around campus.

Photo of a golden retriever sitting on a brick path on the USC horsehoe

The dogs of the Horseshoe

October 10, 2019

Take a moment to destress from midterms by checking out this gallery of some of the cutest puppers on campus.

Joyce Hansen

Award-winning SC author Joyce Hansen featured at Fall Literary Festival

October 10, 2019, Annika Dahlgren

When Joyce Hansen, an award-winning young adult author, was learning to read, she and her mother picked up "Alice and Wonderland" and read it over and over again. Those early reading experiences inspired her passion for storytelling, a joy that turned into a career. Hansen is among a trio of authors coming to campus for this month's Fall Literary Festival.

physician empathy

Researchers use virtual reality videos to help medical students cultivate compassion

October 07, 2019, Chris Horn

Gaining insight into a patient’s concerns and feelings is essential for positive clinical interactions between patients and physicians and better health outcomes. To help foster empathy in medical students, researchers at the School of Medicine Greenville are testing virtual reality videos.

Image of the winning design for the 2019 room of the year competition.

A home away from home

October 04, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel

When the class of 2023 arrived on campus this fall, many wasted no time transforming the blank walls of their rooms into extravagantly designed spaces that reflect their unique personalities. The 2019 Room of the Year contest gave students a chance to showcase the innovative ways they’ve revamped their on-campus rooms and apartments.

Year of the fish

October 03, 2019, Chris Horn

Add this to the growing list of side effects wrought by climate change — fish in parts of the warming Atlantic Ocean are growing faster. That might seem like a good thing, but two fish biologists at the University of South Carolina say the phenomenon of younger, bigger fish could muddy the waters of vital fisheries management.

University 101

The nation's top first-year experience program had its roots in campus unrest

October 03, 2019, Megan Sexton

University 101 started as a trial course in 1972, following a student riot on campus in 1970. Forty-seven years later, the course is being taught to 80 percent of incoming freshmen, helping them adjust to college life and learn about all the university has to offer.

Maxcy monument on the historic Horseshoe

UofSC research partnerships generating over $790 million for the Palmetto State

October 02, 2019, Jeff Stensland

The Office of Economic Engagement, with its corporate and government partners, has created over $790 million in indirect economic impact since its founding in 2013. The figure includes ongoing industry partner investments along with grant generation, software gifts, and new job creation.

Wonder Woman

Telling the American story -- through comics

September 30, 2019, Carol J.G. Ward and Joshua Burrack

With a massive donation of comics from Gary Lee Watson in the spring of 2019, the University of South Carolina is becoming an intellectual center for the study of 20th century popular culture. “The acquisition has made the Irvin department one of the nation's top public repositories of comic books, positioning the University of South Carolina as a premier institution for comics studies,” says Elizabeth Sudduth, associate dean for special collections in University Libraries.

Cocky and parents in Williams-Brice

Fun for the whole family

September 26, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel and Catherine Jobe

It’s that time of year again. Time for our families to descend upon Columbia and UofSC in droves, calling before you’ve even gotten out of class to say that they’re here and asking where to park. They’ve been waiting for this day since August, but what are you going to do with them? Don’t stress; impress them with these options.

A large Gamecock family smiles at the photographer while standing against the background of Williams-Brice Stadium in the distance

Family Weekend plays important role in student support

September 25, 2019, Annika Dahlgren

Family Weekend is part of the university’s wide-ranging commitment to delivering a superior student experience in a welcoming, inclusive environment. It helps to connect a student’s personal support network to the university experience, so that family members can feel engaged in a student’s journey — and a student can feel a deep level of support both on- and off-campus.

Portrait of Celeste Caulder

Clinical Practice Teaching Award: Celeste Caulder

September 20, 2019, Page Ivey

For College of Pharmacy professor Celeste Caulder, every day should bring some new piece of knowledge. One of Caulder’s key goals is to teach her students in the classroom and during their clinical rotations how to be lifelong learners. They will need that ability to learn something new every day as they venture into the field of pharmacy where there is not always one single right solution to a problem.

Portrait of Amanda Fairchild

Mungo Teaching Award: Amanda Fairchild

September 13, 2019, Craig Brandhorst

If you think you hate statistics or they make you nervous, you might just be the perfect student for Amanda Fairchild. The associate professor of psychology is out to demystify statistics for University of South Carolina master’s and Ph.D. candidates, who need Fairchild’s courses to complete their degrees but do not always see themselves as numbers people.

Myisha Eatmon

Meet new faculty: Myisha Eatmon

September 13, 2019, Page Ivey

Myisha Eatmon has joined the university as a research fellow in the history department and will begin as an assistant professor of African American history in fall 2020. The North Carolina native's research focuses on black legal culture in the face of white-on-black violence under Jim Crow and black civil litigation’s impact on civil law.

U.S. News rankings

UofSC is No. 1 nationwide for first-year student experience

September 09, 2019, Megan Sexton

The University of South Carolina has the top first-year student experience among the nation’s public universities, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings.

Brandon Adams, education alumnus

Education alum trades classroom for courtroom

September 09, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

For most students, the path to law school doesn’t include a stop in a fourth grade classroom. Well, at least not as the teacher of the class. But law student Brandon Adams says his experience as a teacher will help him become a better attorney, and he plans to combine his love of teaching and the law.

Sam Piccione

Gamecock grad entertains the world -- one arena at a time

August 30, 2019, Bryony Wardell

Behind the bright lights, beyond the stage, Oak View Group has built a global family of companies that have become known as the leading force in the sport and live entertainment industry. It takes commitment and experience to lead one of those divisions – something University of South Carolina alumnus Sam Piccione III knows firsthand.

Two kayaks on a lake at sunset

The perfect staycation

August 29, 2019, Catherine Jobe and Caleigh McDaniel

Tomorrow is Labor Day and although there’s no class, you’ll still have plenty to do right here at home. We’ve compiled some ideas to spice up your free time and make your day off in Columbia the best one yet.

Yellow lightbulb icon

Nephron, UofSC researchers improving medication safety through automation

August 23, 2019, Jeff Stensland

Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation has joined forces with the University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing to design and implement an automation process that significantly boosts production of pre-filled medication, reducing the physical burden on workers and increasing patient safety.

students tabling at the student org fair on Greene Street

Where do I sign up?

August 22, 2019, Catherine Jobe and Caleigh McDaniel

Joining a student organization is a great way to meet like-minded people and find your home at Carolina. With over 500 clubs that focus on academics, sports, service, careers, interests and more, there is sure to be something for everyone.

A group of students surround the larger-than-life bronze Cocky statue, all of them flashing the spurs up hand sign.

UofSC welcomes increasingly diverse and talented class of students

August 20, 2019, Jeff Stensland

The approximately 8,700 students arriving in Columbia this week are part of the largest pool of new students ever enrolled at the University of South Carolina’s flagship campus. Preliminary enrollment numbers show the university also is increasing in diversity and serving more students from South Carolina than ever before, surpassing last year’s record and setting a new bar for academic achievement.

Dr. Green with students

New partnership aims to enrich student growth, opportunity

August 08, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

The Accelerator for Learning and Leadership for South Carolina (ALL4SC) is an outreach project that will bring together researchers and professionals from 12 academic and professional units at the university to create a strategy to close achievement and opportunity gaps for all students

map of South Carolina with UofSC Alumnni mayor's cities pinned

Keys to the City

August 05, 2019, Craig Brandhorst and Megan Sexton

You don’t need a degree from the University of South Carolina to get elected mayor in the Palmetto State, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. This summer, Carolinian magazine traveled the state, from the Lowcountry to the Upstate, from the Midlands to the Pee Dee, interviewing South Carolina alumni who hold the esteemed office.

portrait of Lee Goodman

The Long Run: Lee Goodman

August 01, 2019, Page Ivey

They arrived in the 1970s, some after serving in Vietnam, some fresh out of high school or college. More than 40 years later, they still come to work at the University of South Carolina — some after officially “retiring.” TIMES spoke with a few of these long-term employees to see what keeps them coming back to work on campus, long after they could have settled into that place in the mountains or that home by the sea.

2015 flood

Disaster research

July 29, 2019, Megan Sexton

From a thousand-year flood to deadly hurricanes, South Carolina is no stranger to disasters. That’s why University of South Carolina researchers are working to better understand why dams fail, how to quickly map disaster areas and ways to improve how people with disabilities navigate natural disasters.

Daniel Speiser

Eyes of the scallop

July 26, 2019, Megan Sexton

When Daniel Speiser tells people that he studies the structure, function and evolution of eyes, they typically envision two eyes on one head. But Speiser, an assistant professor of biological sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, specializes in marine invertebrates with many eyes — sometimes hundreds of eyes distributed across their bodies.

Alexandra Vezzetti

First class of UofSC physician assistant graduates helping improve healthcare access

July 19, 2019, Alyssa Yancey

Alexandra Vezzetti was in the first class of physician assistant students at the School of Medicine and the first PA student to rotate through the neurology department at Prisma Health. Department Chair Souvik Sen, M.D., was so impressed with Vezzetti that he hired her, and next month, she’ll become the department’s first physician assistant.

Robert L. Caslen Jr.

Robert L. Caslen Jr.

July 19, 2019

Robert L. “Bob” Caslen Jr., a retired lieutenant general and the former superintendent and president of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has been named the 29th president of the University of South Carolina.

Tim Mousseau

Breakthrough Leader: Tim Mousseau

July 12, 2019, Page Ivey

One way or another, most life on Earth is affected when one of humanity’s most volatile inventions — the nuclear power plant — catastrophically fails. Biology professor Tim Mousseau leads a team of researchers studying the impact of radiation released from those disasters on animal life, including insects, birds, dogs and humans who live near the failed power plants.

portrait of Sarah Kelly in the mail room

The Long Run: Sarah Kelly

June 27, 2019, Page Ivey

They arrived in the 1970s, some after serving in Vietnam, some fresh out of high school or college. More than 40 years later, they still come to work at the University of South Carolina — some after officially “retiring.” TIMES spoke with a few of these long-term employees to see what keeps them coming back to work on campus, long after they could have settled into that place in the mountains or that home by the sea.

 A portrait of Luke Rankin, our 2019 student body president.

Luke Rankin follows his calling

June 25, 2019, Mia Grimm

Luke Rankin seems like a natural born leader and has the resume to match, but at the beginning of his college career he never saw himself as running for student body president. Now, he's embraced his role as a servant leader, is working to connect different student groups and advocating for underrepresented communities on campus.

Front of Lieber College during renovations

Renovation Recap: Lieber College

June 20, 2019, Koby Padgett

The University of South Carolina provides an outstanding atmosphere not only for its students but also for its faculty and staff - often ranking among the best employers in the state. The latest renovation to Lieber College provides much-needed upgrades contribute to the university’s welcoming atmosphere and help attract and retain university talent.

Immigrant school children

Social workers play key role in immigrant students' success

June 18, 2019, Chris Horn

About one-quarter of children in the U.S. under the age of 18 are immigrants or the children of immigrants, a status that often translates into educational disadvantages. A College of Social Work faculty member is involved in surveying school social workers nationwide to learn what they are doing to help those children navigate successfully through their public school experiences.

Tarak Patel

Patient-centered approach deepens medical students' understanding of addiction

June 18, 2019, Alyssa Yancey

Tarak Patel, a second-year medical student at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, had witnessed the devastation of addiction while volunteering at hospitals and free clinics, but he only had a surface-level understanding of the complexities of the issue. That changed earlier this summer when Patel participated in the Summer Institute for Medical Students (SIMS) at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Center City, Minnesota.

Portrait of Diane Wise

The Long Run: Diane Wise

June 13, 2019, Page Ivey

They arrived in the 1970s, some after serving in Vietnam, some fresh out of high school or college. More than 40 years later, they still come to work at the University of South Carolina — some after officially “retiring.” TIMES spoke with a few of these long-term employees to see what keeps them coming back to work on campus, long after they could have settled into that place in the mountains or that home by the sea.

Jefferson in class with her students

Education alumna wins SC Teacher of the Year

June 06, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Education alumna, Chanda Jefferson, was recently named the 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Her passion for serving others began when she drove the church van as a teenager. Now a decade into her career as an educator, she finds herself teaching much more than biology to her students.

Uzbekistan plaza

Retailing professor wins Fulbright for work in Uzbekistan

June 04, 2019, Allen Wallace

The Fulbright program is one of the most famous and prestigious scholarship programs in the world, with 59 alumni who also have Nobel Prizes and 82 Pulitzer Prize winners. Many people in academia try throughout their career and never win a Fulbright Scholarship. Professor Mark Rosenbaum, chair of the University of South Carolina Department of Retailing, now has three.

President Pastides and Mrs Moore-Pastides at the State of the University

President Pastides reflects on his last commencement exercises

June 04, 2019, Chris Horn

During his 11 years as president of the University of South Carolina, Harris Pastides has participated in more than 100 commencement ceremonies across the university system, delivering remarks, career advice and wise counsel to more than 100,000 graduates. It’s been a bittersweet moment for Pastides, who — with retirement looming on July 31 — considers himself and his wife honorary members of the Class of 2019.

Strom outdoor pool.

Summer in Soda City

May 30, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel

Staying in “famously hot” Columbia during the warmest months of the year leaves many students searching for ways to beat the heat without breaking the bank. If this sounds like you, look no further.

artificial intellingence illustration

Turning big data into smart data

May 29, 2019, Chris Horn

A new Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of South Carolina will launch this summer, building on and harnessing the collective efforts of dozens of faculty members who already are advancing AI research initiatives in diverse academic disciplines.

portrait of Allen Stokes at work

The Long Run: Allen Stokes

May 29, 2019, Page Ivey

They arrived in the 1970s, some after serving in Vietnam, some fresh out of high school or college. More than 40 years later, they still come to work at the University of South Carolina — some after officially “retiring.” TIMES spoke with a few of these long-term employees to see what keeps them coming back to work on campus, long after they could have settled into that place in the mountains or that home by the sea.

Katy Pilarzyk in the lab

Brain Power

May 23, 2019, Alyssa Yancey

Second-year Ph.D. candidate Katy Pilarzyk was one of three University of South Carolina students awarded a prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship this year. She will use her funding to continue her work in Michy Kelly’s lab at the School of Medicine Columbia. The lab studies the inner workings of the brain to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying social and cognitive deficits.

portrait of Donald Baldwin at work

The Long Run: Donald Baldwin

May 21, 2019, Page Ivey

They arrived in the 1970s, some after serving in Vietnam, some fresh out of high school or college. More than 40 years later, they still come to work at the University of South Carolina — some after officially “retiring.” TIMES spoke with a few of these long-term employees to see what keeps them coming back to work on campus, long after they could have settled into that place in the mountains or that home by the sea.

libby foreman

The Long Run: Libby Foreman

May 20, 2019, Page Ivey

They arrived in the 1970s, some after serving in Vietnam, some fresh out of high school or college. More than 40 years later, they still come to work at the University of South Carolina — some after officially “retiring.” TIMES spoke with a few of these long-term employees to see what keeps them coming back to work on campus, long after they could have settled into that place in the mountains or that home by the sea.

Several people rallying outside of statehouse.

Using their 'teacher voices'

May 16, 2019, Page Ivey

On May 1, an estimated 10,000 South Carolina teachers and public education supporters rallied at the Statehouse in an event that showed teachers have been pushed to their limits and are willing to take their fight over working conditions to state lawmakers, says College of Education professor and researcher Jon Hale.

Brainard Cooper

Fellowship honors impact of longtime athletic trainer

May 15, 2019, David Lee

Longtime athletic trainer Brainard Cooper was joined by family, friends, colleagues and Arnold School of Public Health faculty members as they unveiled the Brainard Cooper Athletic Training Fellowship on April 20 at Founders Park. The fellowship will include support for students and faculty in addition to equipment and other needs within the Arnold School’s renowned athletic training programs.

Mr. Gibson's fifth grade class

Culturally relevant teaching changes the game for students

May 13, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Jackson Creek Elementary School, in Columbia, is committed to improving the way its teachers are educating students — both academically and socially. The school is collaborating with College of Education professors to offer all teachers and support staff ongoing professional development in culturally relevant teaching.

Weaving a place to sleep

May 10, 2019, Chris Horn

When Leroy Sims’ church decided to make sleeping mats for Columbia’s homeless population from recycled plastic grocery bags, the custodial facilities manager at the University of South Carolina casually mentioned it to his colleagues. Next thing he knew, thousands of bags poured in.

commencement

Here today, gown tomorrow

May 07, 2019, Megan Sexton

It happens every semester, but it never gets old. Seniors finish their final exams, turn in their last papers, pull on the cap and gown and walk across the stage as proud graduates of the University of South Carolina. TIMES spoke with eight May graduates about their decision to come to Carolina, the memories they have made here and their plans for the future. We also asked them to send us a picture to mark the occasion.

Andrew Super

Graduating senior leaves legacy of HOPE for people with disabilities

May 06, 2019, Allen Wallace

Andrew Super will graduate from the University of South Carolina May 11, but earning his diploma might be the second most impressive thing he has accomplished during his college career. In the past two and a half years, he has helped provide numerous free prosthetic devices for children and veterans in need, through a company he co-founded.

Azaelas outside of Thomas Cooper Library

Take a chill pill

May 03, 2019, Mia Grimm

Halfway through finals and feeling the heat? To help you do your best this week, we’ve compiled a list of brain-break activities so you can finish strong.

President Harris Pastides

A president joins the Class of 2019

May 03, 2019, Chris Horn

During his 11 years as president of the University of South Carolina, Harris Pastides has participated in more than 100 commencement ceremonies across the university system, delivering remarks, career advice and wise counsel to more than 100,000 graduates. This week, he and first lady Patricia Moore-Pastides make their final round of commencement events, with the president serving as the main speaker at each campus. It’s a bittersweet moment for Pastides, who — with retirement looming on July 31 — considers himself and his wife honorary members of the Class of 2019.

adriana bowman camel

First-generation student takes on the world

April 29, 2019, Carol J.G. Ward

Honors College junior Adriana Bowman is one of 30 recipients nationwide of the Pickering Fellowship awarded to students interested in a foreign service career. Multiple study abroad experiences have allowed the S.C. native to immerse herself in foreign languages and cultures.

three award winners

UofSC honors top students at Awards Day

April 18, 2019, Page Ivey

The University of South Carolina presented its top student honors, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Steven N. Swanger awards, to three graduating seniors during the university’s annual Awards Day ceremony Thursday on the historic Horseshoe.

Obelisk in the center of the Horseshoe

Picture perfect

April 12, 2019, Mia Grimm and Catherine Jobe

Our campus is filled with beautiful landscapes and scenes waiting for an impromptu photoshoot. With spring finally in full swing, we decided to highlight some of our favorite spots.

LeAnn Haga, education alumna

From passion to practice

April 05, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Efforts to recruit and retain teachers in South Carolina go beyond the four years students spend on campus. For College of Education alumna LeAnn Haga, a high school outreach program inspired her to pursue a teaching career, a scholarship allowed her to earn a degree debt-free and now, her alma mater continues to support her in her first year as a teacher.

yearly planner with a pen
Project Hope

Cause for hope

April 03, 2019, Chris Horn

When Wendy Rothermel’s son Cade was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, her family life was upside down, punctuated by his frequent temper tantrums. But when the family connected with Project HOPE and Cade’s therapy began, positive changes followed. The nonprofit foundation, launched by two university alumnae, is bringing hope to families across the state.

Maxcy Monument on the UofSC Horseshoe

UofSC's Excellence Initiative launches eight new high-impact projects

April 02, 2019, Jeff Stensland

Eight new research and outreach projects have been selected for funding as a part of the Excellence Initiative, a competitive grant program launched by the Board of Trustees last year to identify and fund proposals with the potential to be transformative and have a lasting impact on the university.

cloud computing

Need for speed

April 02, 2019, Chris Horn

They don’t look like a NASCAR pit crew, but South Carolina's Research Computing team is speeding up the data-crunching capabilities of UofSC scientists, bringing faster analytical results and more efficient computing to those who work with very large and complex data sets.

scholars studying medieval manuscripts

Unlocking a mystery

March 28, 2019, Annika Dahlgren

For the past eight years, people from around the world have gathered at the University of South Carolina’s Hollings Library to experience the wonder of medieval manuscripts, and this year is no different. The ninth annual Medieval Manuscripts Symposium will take place April 1-2. “Understanding the Medieval Book,” is a two-day seminar dedicated to learning about the care, keeping, and understanding of medieval manuscripts.

New music explores Confederate monuments

'Red Hot Sun Turning Over'

March 26, 2019, Megan Sexton

A new composition, "Red Hot Sun Turning Over," by School of Music assistant professor David Garner uses music, sounds and images from the Civil War era and the early 20th century to explore the story of Confederate monuments. It will be premiered Sunday (March 31) at the Koger Center.

Carl Wilkens, 2019 Solomon-Tenenbaum lecturer

'The power of presence'

March 21, 2019, Helen Dennis

As violence in Rwanda escalated in the spring of 1994, the United States government ordered all of its citizens to return home, but Carl Wilkens chose to stay. Wilkens will tell his story, among other stories of rebuilding and reconciling, at this year’s Solomon-Tenenbaum lecture. He will present his talk, “Legacies of Genocide: From the Holocaust to Rwanda and Beyond,” at 7 p.m. Sunday (March 24) in the UofSC Alumni Center.

bates house drawing

10 floors up and a mile away

March 19, 2019, Craig Brandhorst

When Mel Wright came to the University of South Carolina in the fall of 1969, he had a choice: Sign up for one of the older dormitories in the heart of campus — near Russell House, near the Horseshoe, near just about everything — or move into a 10-story high rise a mile down the road.

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason

Boots on the ground

March 13, 2019, Dana Woodward

The Rev. Gary Mason is a Methodist minister and internationally known peacemaker who has worked on reconciliation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for more than 20 years. Mason will present his talk, “Maintaining peace in Northern Ireland: Brexit and the Good Friday agreement,” at 3:30 p.m. on March 22.

global footprint map

Global footprint

March 04, 2019, Craig Brandhorst

The University of South Carolina has been a global player for a long time. But since 2011, when the Focus Carolina strategic plan was announced, the university has significantly increased its internationalization efforts, transforming a healthy overseas presence into a clearly defined global footprint.

Students working at Colonial Life Arena during a South Carolina basketball game

March Madness in Columbia

March 01, 2019, Allen Wallace

This month, for the first time in almost 50 years, March Madness returns to Columbia, South Carolina, with the city chosen as a host site for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. As fan excitement builds, faculty in the University of South Carolina’s sport and entertainment management department share their expertise on what the event will mean for the city and the campus community.

Springtime at Thomas Cooper Library

There's no place like home

March 01, 2019, Mia Grimm and Catherine Jobe

Spring Break, the blessed one week off we get this semester to sit back, relax and enjoy the warm weather is almost here. We know that many of you will be staying in Columbia so we have compiled the perfect staycation to keep you entertained in Soda City.

Miracle Kid Ellington Hewitt at Dance Marathon 2018

For the Kids

February 28, 2019, Allen Wallace

A year ago, University of South Carolina Dance Marathon made history, raising more than a million dollars for the kids at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (then known as Palmetto Health). Just days after that success, they began working to do it again. That yearlong effort concludes Saturday with the student organization’s annual Main Event.

baseball sitting in the dirt

Precision Baseball

February 26, 2019, Madeleine Vath

Last February, Gamecock Baseball sought help from three management science professors at the Darla Moore School of Business to make sense of the raw data from their new data collection system, TrackMan, which captures pitching and hitting statistics for the team. The collaboration between academics and athletics was a success.

Messie's Closet storefront in West Columbia

Popping tags

February 21, 2019, Mia Grimm

Walking into Messie’s Closet, a recently opened contemporary consignment store in West Columbia, is like entering a whole new world covered in brightly colored fabrics. Its curator is Hawa Lukulay, a 23-year-old alumna of the University of South Carolina, who has an eye for detail and a gift for memorizing brands.

Thi Bui

From refugee to novelist

February 21, 2019, Dana Woodward

A story 40 years in the making, award-winning novelist Thi Bui will come to tell it as the Carolina International House at Maxcy College Spring 2019 Visiting Fellow. Bui will give a talk titled, “The Best We Could Do: The Search for Freedom and Home Across Borders.”

football operations center

Under 1 roof

February 19, 2019, Diane Veto Parham

Taking the new Cyndi and Kenneth Long Family Football Operations Center from concept to completion was a team effort that promises a big win. The 110,000-square-foot facility in Gamecock Park will transform the student-athlete experience for football players at the University of South Carolina, Athletics Director Ray Tanner says.

binda niati

Empowered by hip-hop

February 18, 2019, Carol Ward

Noella “Binda” Niati has always been fascinated by the collision of hip-hop/rap, engagement and social change. As a doctoral candidate in the Educational Foundations and Inquiry program of the USC College of Education, she’s turned her attention to harnessing the power of hip hop in transforming education and citizen engagement.

Doug Menuez

Behind the camera

February 14, 2019, Dana Woodward

From 1985 to 2000, while innovators in Silicon Valley were focused on changing the world as we know it, Doug Menuez was focused on documenting it. With unprecedented access to Steve Jobs and other visionaries of the time, Menuez was able to photograph the people who created more jobs and wealth than any other time in human history. And on Wednesday, Feb. 20, faculty, staff, students and the public will be able to hear about that time from the award-winning photographer and documentarian himself.

fighting fake news

All the news that isn't

February 13, 2019, Craig Brandhorst

In the age of social media, it can be hard to tell truth from fiction. And when it comes to news — particularly if it’s related to a hot button political issue — fake news increasingly gets peddled as real news while real news gets maligned as fake. Enter Mo Jang, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and mass communication Ph.D. student Jo-Yun “Queenie” Li. Jang and Li were part of a research team that looked at the origins and spread of fake news on Twitter.

antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The growing resistance

February 12, 2019, Chris Horn

Antibiotic resistance, a public health threat that already endangers millions worldwide, is on track to become a much deadlier problem in the years ahead. Part of the challenge, says a University of South Carolina public health scientist, is that bacterial resistance to antibiotic medications is fostered not only in clinical settings but also in the environment.

Cheedy Jaja and child at Sierra Leone clinic

Committed to service

February 08, 2019, Laura Kammerer

At the height of the Ebola epidemic in 2014, Cheedy Jaja traded the relative comforts of American health care practice for Tyvek bodysuits and chlorine baths. Now the Sierra Leonean native is committed to a new mission: to bolster the early diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell disease in children.

Preston Thorne, former athlete

Life after the 4th quarter

February 08, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Former Gamecocks football player Preston Thorne is back on campus, but now he’s tackling the teacher shortage instead of opponents. Since graduating 15 year ago, Thorne has taught history, coached high school football and even co-authored a children's book. Now, he's helping the College of Education recruit more students to the teaching profession.

Paul Morella as Clarence Darrow

In his words

February 07, 2019, Dana Woodward

In the one-man production, “A Passion for Justice: An Encounter with Clarence Darrow,” actor Paul Morella portrays a selection of Darrow’s most dynamic arguments. The show takes place Feb. 11 at the Karen J. Williams Courtroom in the UofSC School of Law.

Sam Sprouse building

The perfect desk job

February 04, 2019, Chris Horn

At the Charleston Woodworking School, Sam Sprouse teaches his students the right way to make fine furniture, using traditional tools and a craftsman’s sensibility. To succeed here, the only school of its kind in the Palmetto State, students make lots of mistakes — and learn from each one.

Susan O'Malley with female sport and entertainment management students

New internship supports women in sport management

February 01, 2019, Allen Wallace

The University of South Carolina and Monumental Sports & Entertainment are proud to announce a new internship program for female students majoring in sport and entertainment management. The partnership will provide four paid internships per year to advance students’ career experience and develop the industry’s future leaders.

Day of Advocacy

Day of advocacy

January 23, 2019, Chris Horn

Faculty, staff, alumni and students are invited to participate Jan. 30 in Carolina Day, an annual one-day event focused on communicating to legislators the importance of state support for the University of South Carolina.

allen montgomery

Moving on up

January 17, 2019, Chris Horn

Allen Montgomery could do a fair impersonation of the Energizer bunny — he just keeps going and going. The 80-year-old audiology professor in the Arnold School of Public Health has run more than 100 marathons, the last one just a couple of years ago, and he has no immediate plans for retirement. He’s even figured out a creative way to help his academic department consolidate in one space on campus — something that’s never happened since communication sciences and disorders was created as an academic unit in 1972.

MLK Weekend at UofSC

The beloved community

January 17, 2019, Dana Woodward

The University of South Carolina’s MLK Weekend event series culminates Sunday, Jan. 20, with Freedom Rings, an artistic celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. The university partnered with the Columbia nonprofit Auntie Karen Foundation to bring together Midlands musicians, artists and spoken word performers to honor the civil rights leader in an event designed to bring the audience to its feet.

UofSC monogram

A new look (and more) for UofSC

January 16, 2019, Dan Cook

The University of South Carolina’s brand platform refresh includes new visual elements and a more cohesive way of presenting the university to all of its constituents. It helps everyone understand what makes the university special and gives the tools to talk about it in a consistent voice.

Christian Cicimurri

Touching the past

January 15, 2019, Chris Horn

As curator of collections at McKissick Museum, Christian Cicimurri is accustomed to handling old documents and artifacts. But thanks to an ASPIRE II grant and subsequent funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Cicimurri has got her hands on new touch screen technology, which is being incorporated into McKissick’s exhibits.

Teacher in clasroom with student

A teacher's path home

January 14, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

When Michelle Taylor walked across the stage at December’s commencement ceremony to accept her master’s degree, she culminated a journey of more than 7,300 miles and three countries. And though she didn’t step foot on campus during her two years in the Master of Education in Teaching program, she felt strongly about attending graduation.

virginia shervette

Fishing for information

January 11, 2019, Chris Horn

When Virginia Shervette hangs a ‘GONE FISHING’ sign on her door, it’s more than an afternoon jaunt. The USC Aiken fisheries biologist investigates the health of commercial and recreational fish populations in the Caribbean basin in hopes that fisheries managers will use the information when developing accurate assessments of which species are being overfished.

USC Press

Turning the page

January 07, 2019, Chris Horn

The University of South Carolina Press celebrates 75 years of publishing in 2019, which is a pretty big deal in itself, but there’s more going on than a diamond anniversary. A new director, a new acquisitions editor and a more tightly focused editorial direction promise dynamic changes at one of the country’s foremost academic presses.

digital transformation lab

The next big thing(s)

December 31, 2018, Page Ivey

The university has entered two new partnerships — the Industrial Internet of Things Research Lab, which is a partnership with IBM, and the 15,000-square-foot Digital Transformation Lab, which will serve as a research showplace for projects with an array of real-world industrial and consumer applications. USC Times asked Bill Kirkland, director of the Office of Economic Engagement, to help us understand both ventures.