Students join in protesting Iran’s election

As violence grows in the election’s aftermath, L.A.-based Iranians worry for their families.

Nearly two weeks ago, Iranian students at USC were celebrating voting in Iran’s presidential election but now they’re protesting, asking themselves the question that seems to be on many Iranians’ mind since the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “Where is my vote?” “The result was very disappointing and shocking,” said Hamid Chabok, president of the Iranian Graduate Student Association at USC. 7 comments

Mr. O’Neill, ‘the floor is yours’

Kevin O’Neill makes a good first impression during his formal introduction Monday.

It started off with a bang. USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett introduced new men’s basketball coach Kevin O’Neill at a Varsity Lounge press conference Monday, saying, “Kevin, the floor is yours.” O’Neill’s first public comments as the coach of a program under intense scrutiny from the NCAA? He pointed over to his wife, 32-year-old Roberta.

Reality TV: less substance, more spectacle

Plans to release a plus-size version of “The Bachelor” calls into question industry standards.

It’s an all-too-familiar tableau. A group of pasty, fleshy men and women lumber up the side of a mountain, as “Lord of the Rings”-esque arpeggios trill in the background. Suddenly, the group is inexplicably standing on the cusp of what appears to be the Grand Canyon; the score swells ominously, metaphors for the great struggle ahead fly fast and hard, and sweat pours off the furrowed brows of the 17 contestants whose sole ambition it is to be a Big Loser. 2 comments

Summer film fails to remain through the season

(500) Days of Summer Rating: PG-13 Length: 95 min. Opens July 17 “(500) Days of Summer” has all the correct ingredients for a quirky relationship film: two super-adorable actors with immeasurable amounts of spunky charisma, a hip soundtrack featuring both new and old artists with indie street cred and a refreshing tag line (“This is not a love story.