Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
INSIDE
USC quarterback Mark Sanchez and the football team ^ have their Trojan Huddle Sunday at the Coliseum. 20
www.dailytrojan.com
April 5, 2006
Vol. CXLVI1I. No. 51
Monitor wall. Matthew Schwenke, a junior majoring in theater, works on multiple computers simultaneously at his house. Schwenke is one of an increasing number of USC students who attempt to perform multiple tasks at once, but experts say multitasking might be ineffective.
Multitasking effectiveness in question
Quick Fact
Students who perform many
tasks at once tend to be less effective at focusing on tasks.
By ADRIAN FL0R1D0
Staff Writer
During one session of his Physics 153 class, Agustin Pierri accomplished more on his laptop than most people a generation ago could have gotten done in an entire day.
He chatted with a friend that he hadn't spoken to since grade school,
bought new tirra for his car. browsed
MySpace profiles and scheduled his fall classes. All of this while navigating the intricacies of quantum mechanical systems via Schrodinger's wave equation.
Pierri's multitasking capabilities aren't unique. With the advent of portable technology and ever more demanding schedules, college students are increasingly making use of this technology to more efficiently take advantage of their brains’ ability to process multiple pieces of information simultaneously.
In a typical USC lecture hall, most of which are equipped with wireless
capabilities, students can be seen navigating the Internet on laptops, sending text messages on cell phones and checking e-mail as they try to absorb the information being taught by their instructor.	Practicing
In Pierri’s case, his in-class multi-	certain tasks
tasking is a way to take	advantage of	wj|| reduce
time that he said would	be otherwise	the amount
squandered.	of attention
“There's a lot of wasted time in	needed to per-
class, so I might as well take advantage	form the task,
of it,” said Pierri, a junior majoring in	creating better
chemistry.	multitasking
Pierri’s opinions about multitasking	results.
I see Multitasking page 13 i
Old Senate wraps up business
Former Vice President Chase Tajima was confirmed as a Judicial Council member.
By JOANNA LIN
Staff Writer
Just one hour before its new administration was sworn in, Student Senate held an emergency meeting Tuesday to confirm a Judicial Council justice and redress unfinished business concerning Program Board.
In a 7-1 vote, senators confirmed outgoing Vice President Chase Tajima as the fifth associate justice on the Judicial Council.
There is still one associate justice position to fill, which will fall under the responsibility of incoming President Sam Gordon.
After a lengthy discussion among themselves, Senate unanimously voted on a revised amendment to change the selection process for Program Board's executive, finance and administration and committee directors.
The amendment was postponed from the outgoing administration’s final meeting last Tuesday.
Program Board and Senate members alike expressed disappointment and frustration that the two parties did not work together to rewrite the selection process. The postponement was intended to allow them to try again before their incumbent leaders stepped down.
But even with the added time, the organizations still failed to collaborate.
The emergency meeting, called by Tajima Sunday afternoon, was scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, the time Senate usually holds its pre-meetings.
Program Board, however, also holds its own meeting at
I see Senate page 14 I
More
Coverage
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Student Senate president-elect Sam Gordon and his staff were sworn into office Tuesday night. 14
New iPod update hopes to combat hearing loss
The update for the popular music player allows users to set maximum volume levels.
By KAELYN FORDE ECKENRODE
Staff Writer
Listening to your iPod so loudly your roommate can hear it means more than just the occasional glare — it can also be harmful to your ears. Apple's March 29 update for its fifth-generation iPods and iPod nanos seeks to save listeners' hearing and roommates' sanitr*like by limiting volume to ear-friendly levels.
iPod Software Update 1.1.1
lets users and parents control and restrict the maximum volume their iPods (and their children's iPods) can reach.
"It is a software update created to let listeners choose their maximum volume setting and to give parents passcode-protected access to the maximum volume setting on their children’s iPods,” said Tom Neumayr, a spokesman for Apple.
The update comes in response to research done on noise-induced hearing loss and programs such as Tangerine-Soft’s unofficial “iPod-VolumeBooster,” which Apple officials and audiologists agree can be I see IPod page 111
INDEX
A USC student will appear on a new modeling show. 8
Government shouldn't fund prayer research. 5
Newt DigrsL..
J lifntyir..  4 Sporti—
___T
10
WEATHER
Today:
Thunder showers. High 6ft low 48.
Sunny.
Senior’s cartoon passion no child’s play
Roberto Padilla, a senior majoring in communication, wants to study cartoons in Japan after getting a Luce Scholarship.
By CATHERINE LYONS
Staff Writer
The Luce Foundation recently rewarded Roberto Padilla, a senior majoring in communication and a vibrant, active member of the USC community, for his passions in children's media.
Padilla is one of only 18 people chosen across the nation to travel to Asia this upcoming year for an internship in the field of his choice, paid for in full by The Henry Luce Foundation.
Padilla, also a Norman Topping Scholarship recipient, is earning a master's in communication management in addition to his bachelor's.
He hopes to go to Japan to further study children's media and to further the possibilities for a career in the area.
Padilla is specifically interested in cartoons.
“I think they have a lot more potential, and the answer for making them better does not necessarily exist in the U.S.,” Padilla said. ”1 want to look abroad in Asia for new ideas. Japan is having a big influence on the U.S. cartoon scene. I want to make cartoons better and I want to be the best I can be in children's media.”
The Luce Foundation noticed Padilla's strong ambition.
I see Icfcetar page 12 I
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***** MateusM* [>»♦* woftr
Ootng oversea*. Senior Roberto Padilla hopes to study children's media after becoming a Luce Scholar