Written by Farren Benjamin, USC blog contributor
In an effort to provide the student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience where student-athletes can engage and learn about activities away from the comfort of their own sport, USC athletic director Pat Haden has launched a series of lectures for each sports team that exposes the athletes to all corners of campus.
Each team will have the opportunity to explore a different aspect of campus life of their collective choosing through this collaboration between athletics and the Provost's office. These lectures can range anywhere from learning about a specific department on campus to learning about a certain club or student-service department.
Yesterday, the women's basketball team voiced their interest in learning more about the Theatre and Dramatic Arts department and got an opportunity to sit down with associate professor of dramatic writing at the USC School of Theatre, Oliver Mayer.
"It was very interesting to get such a different perspective on something other than what we focus on each day," said junior forward Michelle Jenkins. "You don't realize how many different things go on everyday on campus and I was shocked to find out that we have a theatre right here on our own campus!"
In an effort to provide the student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience where student-athletes can engage and learn about activities away from the comfort of their own sport, USC athletic director Pat Haden has launched a series of lectures for each sports team that exposes the athletes to all corners of campus.
Each team will have the opportunity to explore a different aspect of campus life of their collective choosing through this collaboration between athletics and the Provost's office. These lectures can range anywhere from learning about a specific department on campus to learning about a certain club or student-service department.Yesterday, the women's basketball team voiced their interest in learning more about the Theatre and Dramatic Arts department and got an opportunity to sit down with associate professor of dramatic writing at the USC School of Theatre, Oliver Mayer.
"It was very interesting to get such a different perspective on something other than what we focus on each day," said junior forward Michelle Jenkins. "You don't realize how many different things go on everyday on campus and I was shocked to find out that we have a theatre right here on our own campus!"
Mayer is the author of over 20 plays, including Blade to the Heat, Filo Al Fuego and Dark Matters.
He is the winner of a USC Zumberge Individual Award for a new six-play
thematic cycle, a Visions & Voices grant for his opera and a USC
Mellon Mentoring Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring of
Undergrads. His new play The Wallowa Project premieres on April 8 at Son of Semele Ensemble in Los Angeles.
"Our team was really excited to meet someone so distinguished in the theatre industry," said junior forward Christina Marinacci. "As a team, we are even planning on attending one of his plays after our season is complete."
The lecture series will encompass five other teams this semester (football, baseball, men's basketball, women's soccer and women's volleyball) and give them the opportunity to explore a field of their choice and continue Haden's vision of providing USC student-athletes with a vast amount of experiences off the field of competition.
(Photo by Rob Kondrath)
"Our team was really excited to meet someone so distinguished in the theatre industry," said junior forward Christina Marinacci. "As a team, we are even planning on attending one of his plays after our season is complete."
The lecture series will encompass five other teams this semester (football, baseball, men's basketball, women's soccer and women's volleyball) and give them the opportunity to explore a field of their choice and continue Haden's vision of providing USC student-athletes with a vast amount of experiences off the field of competition.
(Photo by Rob Kondrath)
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