USC Retired Faculty Association

February Board Meeting Preliminary Minutes

2012-02-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

Preliminary minutes for the February 10, 2012, Board of Directors' meeting are available by clicking here. You can also find these minutes on RFA Secretary Bob Stallings' personal website, rstallings.com. Don't forget to follow the RFA on Twitter @USCrfa.

March "Sherry Hour"

2012-02-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to the fourth "Sherry Hour" of the academic year sponsored by the RFA. It will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, in Room 241 of Doheny Memorial Library. Room 241 is a newly refurbished room located on the second floor down the hall east from the Intellectual Commons Room.

Our guest speaker is Alison Dundes Renteln, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at USC with joint appointments in Anthropology, Law, and Public Policy. She will lead us in thinking about "Law in a Multicultural World: The Right to Culture as a Human Right." Professor Renteln studies international law, human rights, comparative legal systems, Constitutional law, and legal and political theory. An expert on cultural rights, including the use of the "cultural defense" in the legal system, she has lectured on this subject to many judicial organizations and law enforcement groups. A graduate of Radcliffe College of Harvard University, holder of the Ph.D. degree from U.C. Berkeley, and the J.D. degree from USC, she has won many honors at USC, including the USC Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Recognition Award, the USC Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Remarkable Woman Award. Her book, The Cultural Defense (Oxford), resulted in her receiving the 2006 Phi Beta Kappa Award for Creativity in Research. She is affiliated with the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and served as its Director from 2005–2007.

R.S.V.P. to ecrsvp@usc.edu or 213 740-7122 no later than Monday, March 5, 2012.

There is no charge for this event. Three kinds of sherry, sparkling cider, water, and light refreshments will be served. Should you need additional details, please contact Jack Crossley at crossley@usc.edu.

Parking: It is recommended that you park in Parking Structure D (with elevator) or Parking Structure X (without elevator). For Parking Structure D, enter at Gate 4, Jefferson Boulevard at Royal Street (across from the Shrine Auditorium). For Parking Structure X, enter at Gate 3, Figueroa Street at McCarthy Way. Parking Structure X is closest to Doheny Library. Courtesy parking is available for retirees with a Gold Card; all others, $8.00.

January Board of Directors' Minutes

2012-01-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

Minutes for the January 13, 2012, Board of Directors' meeting are available by clicking here. You can also find these minutes on RFA Secretary Bob Stallings' personal website, rstallings.com. Don't forget to follow the RFA on Twitter @USCrfa.

Provost's Faculty Retirement Recognition Luncheon

2011-11-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

Sherry Hour speaker switches topic "on the spot"

2011-11-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

We shouldn't allow a rare moment to pass without being noticed by RFA's general membership.

On November 11, 2011, Robin D. G. Kelley, until recently Professorof American Studies and Ethnicity at USC (now at UCLA), was guest speaker atthe Retired Faculty Association's Sherry Hour. The format of this event isdesigned to encourage spontaneity, both on the part of the speaker and theaudience. Professor Kelley amply demonstrated that he is a master ofspontaneity.

He had been prepared to speak about the influence of American jazzon liberation movements in Africa. Members of audience, however, requested achange in topic. Aware of his prize-winning book, Thelonius Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (2009)), they prevailed on him to talk about Monk instead. They weretreated to a fascinating picture of how a talented musician, exposed toclassical music over many years, emerged as one of the preeminent jazzcomposers and pianists of the twentieth century.

Professor Kelley promised to return next year to speak about jazzin revolutionary Africa.

Welcome!

2011-02-03T16:29:00.000-08:00

This is the new blogging home of the University of Southern California's Retired Faculty Association. Founded in 1949, the RFA currently represents a known constituency of more than 1,000 members of whom two-thirds are dues-paying members. Membership is extended to full-time retired faculty, senior active faculty members, part-time and adjunct retired faculty, and spouses/partners of living or deceased eligible members. We aim to keep USC retirees, both faculty and staff, informed about activities and programs of interest. Also follow us on Twitter @USCrfa.