Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912 | www.dailytrojan.com | VOL. 177, NO. 21 | Thursday september 27, 2012
InDEX 4 · Opinion 5 · Lifestyle 8 · Classifieds 9 · Crossword 12 · Sports
Best in breakfast: Larry King’s
Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.
comes to 27th Street. PAGE 5
White Mamba:
Brian Scalabrine reflects on his
USC career. PAGE 12
By Theodore Yuan
Daily Trojan
Professors and students gathered in Ground Zero
Performance Café on Wednesday to share thoughts
about the role of citizenship in today’s world. The
event, called “Reimagine Citizenship,” was part of
the USC Levan Institute’s ongoing “Coffeehouse
Conversations On Practical Ethics” series.
Moderator Sharon Lloyd, a professor of philosophy,
law and political science, began the discussion by
challenging the audience to think about how prevalent
activism is in today’s society.
“Are there more sources of activism now, or just
slacktivism?” she said.
The panel, which featured two Dornsife professors,
a law professor and two Ph.D. students, weighed in on
Panel discusses
citizenship in
modern society
The USC Levan Institute hosted an event that
explored the reasons behind political activism.
| see Levan, page 2 |
ethics
Arya Harsono | Daily Trojan
Civics · Panelists Niels W. Frenzen (left), Scott Lepisto, Michel Angela Martinez and
Ron Osbourne discussed historical and modern-day activism at the Wednesday event.
politics
By brittany nicole la hue
Daily Trojan
Though much of the focus on
the Nov. 6 election has centered
on the presidential race, several
significant measures that will
affect California policy will also be
considered.
One such proposal is
Proposition 34, which seeks to
abolish the state’s death penalty for
convicted murderers, according
to the California Official Voter
Information Guide. This would
Opinions vary
on banning
death penalty
Proposition 34, which aims to
ban the death penalty, is one of
many contentious measures.
| see punishment, page 3 |
ELECTION 2012
in memoriam
By jordyn holman
Daily Trojan
Mikhail Vinaykin, a Ph.D.
candidate in the chemistry
department who was known
for his “contagious curiosity,”
died in a motorcycle accident on
Exposition Boulevard on Tuesday
morning. He was 24.
Vinaykin grew up in Russia
and attended St. Petersburg State
University, where he received his
undergraduate degree in physics.
He moved to the United States
to begin his graduate program in
chemistry at USC in 2009.
Professors endearingly referred
to Vinaykin as “Misha” and
described him as an enthusiastic
student who had a knack for the
sciences.
“I’ve been around for a long time
so there’s not many things that
surprise me,” said Professor Alex
Benderskii, Vinaykin’s research
adviser. “But Misha surprised me
almost on a daily basis, and that’s
really special.”
Vinaykin was in his fourth
year of the program. His research
focused on ultrafast nonlinear
spectroscopy with a focus on
hydrogen bonding and water.
Vinaykin’s peers said they
remembered his dedication and
a commitment that had very few
limits.
“Misha was highly motivated
and very interested in science and
knowledge,” said Fadel Shalhout,
a graduate student who worked
with Vinaykin. “If he experienced
problems in research he spent all
night in the lab figuring it out.”
Professor Jahan Dawlaty, a first
assistant professor of chemistry,
said he was immediately impressed
with Vinaykin when he came to
USC. Vinaykin inquired the most
and seemed the most engaged in
discussions, he said.
“Misha asked questions until
he had the right answer, which
was the sign of a good scientist,”
Dawlaty said.
Vinaykin was Dawlaty’s
teaching assistant for his upper-level
chemistry class this semester.
He connected with the juniors and
seniors he taught, Dawlaty said.
The day after Vinaykin’s death,
Dawlaty began his class with a
minute of silence.
“He certainly did have a fan
club of students because some
[students] only attended his
discussion session,” Dawlaty said.
“Many students were quite sad
and shocked.”
Students outside the chemistry
department also admired his
curiosity.
“He was always asking questions
and he was eager to learn more
about the French language,” said
Annie Capaldi, an undeclared
freshman in his French class. “I
think we all gained a little bit
by being in the class with him
and witnessing his passion for
learning.”
Vinaykin, in addition to sharing
his passions for the sciences, also
had an infectious personality.
Graduate students who studied
with him said he had a good sense
of humor and a love for travel.
“In his 24 years of living,”
Shalhout said, “he probably
experienced as much as a
100-year-old man. He lived life to
the fullest.”
Vinaykin’s death has left a
vacancy in the department that
will not be easily filled, Benderskii
said.
“He absolutely had a big role
in the chemistry department,”
Benderskii said. “Everyone knew
him, and he had a lot of friends and
a lot of faculty knew him and were
enthusiastic about his prospects.”
Columbia University and other
top institutions were courting
him for his two- to three-year
post-doctoral work, according to
Benderskii.
Vinaykin’s parents are flying
into Los Angeles on Thursday
from Russia. Plans for a memorial
service are pending.
Student remembered for his enthusiasm, intellect
Professors and peers described 24-year-old Mikhail Vinaykin
as bright, friendly and committed to the study of chemistry.
Photo courtesy of Jahan Dawlaty
Scholar · His colleagues remembered Mikhail Vinaykin a student with
an engaged mind who was on his way to becoming a gifted scientist.
service
By arlene washington
Daily Trojan
With each coming year,
Alternative Break programs are
becoming the hot option for
students looking to make the
most out of their winter or spring
vacations. This year, an increase
in student interest caused
student coordinators to plan 13
trips, including a new destination
in India.
The program has evolved from
offering eight trips in 2009 as
interest has increased. Last year,
the volunteer center received
a total of 269 applications for
approximately 225 available
spots.
The center expects an even
greater level of interest this year.
“We’ve grown in the number
of trips and in the amount of
student interest every year,”
said Kate Johnson, the graduate
assistant for the Alternative Break
programs. “Student coordinators
have really become the advocates
for the focus of their trip and
inspire their participants.”
The specific focuses of the
trips range from hunger and
More students
apply to trips
over breaks
The Alternative Break
program will hold 13 service
learning trips this year.
| see trips, page 2 |