USF News http://www.usfca.edu USF News Feed USFers Mine "Big Data" for Better Business Results  http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USFers_Mine_Big_Data_for_Better_Business_Results/ Students in the University of San Francisco's new graduate analytics program are learning how "Moneyball" math can help some of Silicon Valley's best known companies see patterns in their customers' behavior and make better business decisions with the information. USF Named College of Distinction http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USF_Named_College_of_Distinction/ The University of San Francisco is one of California's Colleges of Distinction for 2012, an honor that highlights the university's hands-on teaching approach, outstanding faculty, and high praise from graduates. Legalize It? http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Passion_for_Justice/State_Supreme_Court_Hears_Medical_Marijuana_Challenge/ The California Supreme Court held a special session at the University of San Francisco on Feb. 5 to hear arguments on one of the most controversial issues facing the state: the legalization of medical marijuana. Teaching the Science and Business of Biotechnology http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Research/USF_Launches_Biotechnology_Master’s_Program/ Capitalizing on its location in the region that gave birth to the global biotechnology industry, the University of San Francisco launched an interdisciplinary program that brings together the scientific expertise and business know-how needed to develop the next generation of biotech innovators.  Doing Enormous Good http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/Doing_Enormous_Good/ Founded on Sept. 18, 1912 in downtown San Francisco, on the corner of Market and Seventh streets, the school has grown from 39 students to more than 700 today. U.S. News and World Report ranks it 10th in the nation for ethnic diversity. USF's Three Million Dollar Man http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USF_s_Three_Million_Dollar_Man/ Sometimes life throws you a curveball. Consider 21-year-old Kyle Zimmer, who dreamed of playing professional baseball ever since he was a little boy, but joined USF’s team as a barely noticed walk-on with no scholarship and little chance of playing. Coaches at the university spotted something special in Zimmer, however—a raw talent—and together they decided to take a chance. This is the unlikely story of how one player started on USF’s baseball team as an infielder and left as a star pitcher, chosen by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the draft with a $3 million signing bonus and a genuine shot at the big leagues. Philosopher Wins Distinguished Research Award http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Research/Philosopher_Wins_Distinguished_Research_Award/ The impulse to kick your leg when the doctor knocks your knee with a rubber mallet is involuntary; cheating on a chemistry exam is a choice… right? New Leaders Bring a Fresh Perspective to USF  http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/New_Leaders_Bring_a_Fresh_Perspective_to_USF/ The University of San Francisco has new leaders overseeing fundraising, branch campuses, and two of the university's storied academic centers.  Happy Graduation http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Happy_USF_Graduation/ Join the Dons as they celebrate fall graduation in St. Ignatius Church on Dec. 14. Commencement Mass begins at 10 a.m., with graduates receiving their diplomas at ceremonies spaced throughout the day.  Building Better Nurses at USF http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Research/Building_Better_Nurses_at_USF/ Groundbreaking research underway at USF’s new $1.7 million nursing simulation lab could transform how nursing is taught at universities across the country and improve nurses’ on-the-job performance. USFers' Smart Meter Improves Home Efficiency http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Research/USFers_Smart_Meter_Improves_Home_Efficiency/ The University of San Francisco’s Sami Rollins, associate professor of computer science, envisions a future of environmentally conscious homeowners who can monitor their home’s energy efficiency and turn appliances on and off remotely from their smartphones. Alum Revolutionizes the Credit Card Industry  http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/Alum_Revolutionizes_the_Credit_Card_Industry/ Not long ago, small business owners who wished to offer credit and debit card sales were forced to buy or rent swipe machines, sign contracts with credit card companies, and pay monthly as well as per-use fees. Then, along came USF’s Cameron Walters MS ’08, one of a small group of entrepreneurs who founded Square Inc., maker of the Square Reader. McCarthy Center Research Deepens Bay Area Political Discourse http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Research/McCarthy_Center_Research_Deepens_Bay_Area_Political_Discourse/ If you search the news for the University of San Francisco on any given week, there is a good chance you’ll come across election, demographic, or public opinion analysis from the school’s Corey Cook, associate professor of politics, and Public Research Associate David Latterman. USF Teachers, Students Ally With People of the Amazon http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Global_Perspective/USF_Teachers,_Students_Ally_With_People_of_the_Amazon/ This summer, 12 graduate students from the University of San Francisco’s International and Multicultural Education (IME) Program traveled to the remote Amazon region of Morona Santiago, Ecuador, to build a bilingual curriculum for an ancient, indigenous people fighting for its survival. Undergraduate Researchers Return Native Plants to Lone Mountain http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Research/Researchers_Return_Native_Plants_to_Lone_Mountain/ Pockets of native plantings are turning back the calendar more than 100 years on the University of San Francisco’s Lone Mountain campus, thanks to experiments being conducted by dozens of USF undergraduate ecology students. Civil Rights Leader is First USF Diversity Scholar http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/Civil_Rights_Leader_is_First_USF_Diversity_Scholar/ Distinguished civil rights leader and scholar Clarence B. Jones is the University of San Francisco’s inaugural Diversity Scholar Visiting Professor. Jones was a friend, counsel, adviser, and speechwriter to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Fall Arts Come to Campus http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Fall_Arts_Come_to_Campus/ As San Francisco celebrates the arrival of the fall arts season, the University of San Francisco is kicking off its own series of fall dance, musical, and theatrical performances beginning Sept. 29 and running through December. USF Commemorates Law School Centennial http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USF_Commemorates_Law_School_Centennial/ The University of San Francisco School of Law kicked off its 100-year anniversary celebration with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. headlining the centennial convocation on Sept. 19. USFers Welcomed Back to Campus With Improvements http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USFers_Welcomed_Back_to_Campus_With_Improvements/ While many students and faculty enjoyed a break from campus over the summer, construction and renovation work at the University of San Francisco revved into high gear. USF’s Downtown Campus Opens for Business http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USFs_Downtown_Campus_Opens_for_Business/ The University of San Francisco celebrated the official opening of its Downtown Campus with a gala event on Sept. 14. USF Makes The Washington Center’s Top Five http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USF_Makes_The_Washington_Center_Top_Five/ StartFragment USF Dons Sport New Look http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Passion_for_Justice/USF_Dons_Sport_New_Logo/ The University of San Francisco Athletics Department has ushered in a new era, unveiling an up-to-date look for the Dons. USF Celebrates 15th Anniversary With America Reads http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USF_Celebrates_15th_Anniversary_With_America_Reads/ The University of San Francisco is marking 15 years of tutoring in San Francisco schools as part of America Reads, a program that USF students have taken part in since its founding. Move-In Day is Just the Beginning http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Move-In_Day_is_Just_the_Beginning/ Orientation week kicks off Aug. 18, with thousands of new students arriving to campus as part of Move-In Day at the University of San Francisco. New Science Center Marks Milestone http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/New_Science_Center_Marks_Milestone/ The University of San Francisco recently surpassed the halfway point of construction on the John Lo Schiavo, S.J. Center for Science and Innovation (CSI), celebrating the milestone with a topping-off ceremony. Students Learn From Gritty Reality http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Global_Perspective/Students_Learn_From_Gritty_Reality/ Returning to the Philippines to study this past spring, Teresa Cariño ’13 anticipated a kind of homecoming. The Philippines is her parents’ homeland, after all. She had visited many times. What she found were families crowded into shanties and children living on the streets—scenes she had previously only glimpsed from the security of her family’s car. Injustice in the Blues http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Passion_for_Justice/Injustice_in_the_Blues/ Looking out the window of the Revolution Café on Seventh Street recently, Patrick Duffey ’14 studied a trash-filled lot surrounded by graffiti-tattooed fences. It was hard to imagine that the area, near the West Oakland BART station, was once a center of the West Coast blues and jazz scene. Connections to San Francisco’s Filipino Community Run Deep http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Connections_to_San_Franciscos_Filipino_Community_Run_Deep/ Filipinos living in San Francisco’s South of Market (SOMA) district know the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center Corey Cook: The State of Our City http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Corey_Cook__The_State_of_Our_City/ As USF readies for its downtown return, so, too, is the city of San Francisco embarking on a new chapter with the election of its first Asian American mayor, the largest surge in technology jobs since the dot-com boom of the late ’90s, and crushing budget woes. Corey Cook, USF associate professor of politics and director of the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, is an expert on urban politics and public policy. He sat down with USF Magazine to discuss the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead for San Francisco. The following is adapted from that discussion. USF Honors SF Giants’ Service With California Prize http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USF_Honors_SF_Giants_Service_With_California_Prize/ The San Francisco Giants baseball team is the winner of the 2012 USF California Prize for Service and the Common Good. Walking on Water http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/Walking_on_Water/ David Vann’s life has not gone the way he planned it. Raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, and educated at Stanford and Cornell universities, Vann had a story in the Atlantic Monthly by the time he was 25. It was a promising start for a young writer, and it gave him confidence that he would soon find a publisher for the novella and short story collection he had been working on, “Legend of a Suicide.” But its unconventional style and dark title made it anathema to publishers, and the manuscript sat untouched for years. Justice for the Jesuits http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Global_Perspective/Justice_for_the_Jesuits/ On Aug. 7, 2011, nine former senior Salvadoran military officers turned themselves in at an army base outside San Salvador, rather than face the humiliating prospect of being arrested in public. They did so after Interpol, acting at the behest of a Spanish court, issued an international warrant for their arrest as alleged perpetrators of one of the most shocking human rights atrocities ever committed in Latin America: the assassination of six Jesuit priests, their cook, and her daughter in November 1989. USF Provost Among Most Influential Businesswomen http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USF_Provost_Among_Most_Influential_Businesswomen/ Jennifer Turpin, University of San Francisco provost and vice president for academic affairs, has been named one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business for a second straight year by the San Francisco Business Times. Award-Winning Student Films Head to Tinseltown  http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/Award-Winning_Student_Films_Head_to_Tinseltown/ StartFragment To Do: Bike Cross-Country and Build Homes for Families http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Passion_for_Justice/To_Do__Bike_Cross-Country_and_Build_Homes_for_Families/ Call it enervating or call it energizing — either way, USFers will take to the open road for a second consecutive year, traveling cross-country to raise money for low-income family housing and to build homes for families without them. USF’s New Pleasanton Campus Opens http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USFs_New_Pleasanton_Campus_Opens/ The University of San Francisco’s campus in the East Bay is now smarter, not only for its six new smart classrooms but also for its convenient Pleasanton location within walking distance of BART — making it easy to access and better for the environment. KUSF Sale Approved by FCC http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/KUSF_Sale_Approved_by_FCC/ The University of San Francisco’s sale of KUSF radio to the nonprofit Classical Public Radio Network (CPRN) was approved today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). USF Alumna Swings for the Spotlight http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USF_Alumna_Swings_for_the_Spotlight/ Four weeks into the reality golf show “Big Break Atlantis,” the University of San Francisco’s Christina Stockton ’10 is still alive, having survived an elimination challenge in week three. English Major and USF Shine in Seventeen Magazine Blog Series http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/English_Major_and_USF_Shine_in_Seventeen_Magazine_Blog_Series/ When the University of San Francisco’s Melyssa (Mele) Perla ’15 posts about a stressful final exams week or gives a dorm room tour on her blog, more people than her family and friends read about it. About five million more.  USF Professor Inducted into IP Hall of Fame http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USF_Professor_Inducted_into_IP_Hall_of_Fame/ Senior Professor of Law J. Thomas McCarthy is one of six global intellectual property leaders to be inducted into the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame for 2012. USF Named to President’s Service Honor Roll http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/USF_Named_to_Presidents_Service_Honor_Roll/ The University of San Francisco was recently named to the President’s 2012 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the sixth consecutive year.  USF Celebrates Graduates http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USF_Celebrates_Graduates/ StartFragment PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism Goes to USF Alum http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Scholarship/PGA_Lifetime_Achievement_Award_in_Journalism_Goes_to_USF_Alum/ Writer Jaime Diaz ’75 recently won the 2012 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism after nearly three decades covering sports for some of the nation’s most prestigious publications. Computer Scientists Help Hunt Child Predators http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Passion_for_Justice/Computer_Scientists_Help_Hunt_Child_Predators/ New software applications created by University of San Francisco computer science students forgo the “gotcha” moment of Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator,” but are designed to help police capture child sex predators just the same. Hospitality Symposium Brings Social Media http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Hospitality_Symposium_Brings_Social_Media/ Social media is part of many people’s daily lives. It is also a growing part of everyday business, particularly businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry. USFers, Residents Win for Best Green Community Project http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/USFers,_Residents_Win_for_Best_Green_Community_Project/ San Franciscans recently bestowed a community project award on the Bridgeview Teaching and Learning Garden — a project in the city’s gritty Bayview-Hunters Point district that University of San Francisco students helped to design and build. Giarratano Tops Baseball Wins List http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/Giarratano_Tops_Baseball_Wins_List/ Nino Giarratano is the University of San Francisco’s winningest head baseball coach, moving him into sixth place on the West Coast Conference career victories list. 'University of the Best City Ever' http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/University_of_the_Best_City_Ever/ The University of San Francisco is re-introducing itself to the city it has called home for more than 150 years with a visibility advertising campaign that is meant to set San Franciscans on their collective ear. 2010 Law Alumna of the Year Wins Award for Increasing Judicial Access http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/San_Francisco_and_Campus/2010_Law_Alumna_of_the_Year_Wins_State_Award_for_Increasing_Judicial_Access/ State Court of Appeals Justice Maria P. Rivera ’74 is the 2011 Benjamin Aranda III Access to Justice Award-winner. Building a Generation to Fight Human Trafficking http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Global_Perspective/Building_a_Generation_to_Fight_Human_Trafficking/ The child-safe hotel where Kelsey Silva ’13 and fellow University of San Francisco classmates slept in Thailand was familiar, in a studied way. As were the center that housed Thai women who were recently rescued from prostitution and the restaurant where Silva’s class ate that was run by former Cambodian street children.