Fine Print

International Film week

12
Oct

IGSA won the best film award in the International film week by showing the movie name as "Turtles Can Fly" which won the Golden Shell at San Sebastian and the Silver Bear at Chicago and is the Iranian entry to the Academy for 2004 Foreign Film consideration.
 
"Turtles Can Fly" is set in Ghobadi’s native Kurdistan on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq. Thirteen-year-old Soran (Soran Ebrahim) is known as “Satellite,” for his installation of dishes and antennae for local villages looking for news of Saddam. He is the dynamic leader of the children, organizing the dangerous but necessary sweeping and clearing of the minefields.
 
The devastation to this land and its inhabitants is revealed in the matter-of-fact perspective of the children and is equally displayed with every poignant detail of its unbearable nature. The exquisitely haunting mountains play backdrop to violence and tragedy, but at the same time the heart and humor of the children is an undeniable force.

 

IGSA Weekly Movie Nights

01
Oct

In order to promote Iranian culture and familiarize the USC community with the real image of everyday life in Iran and its social issues, IGSA is committed to screen popular Iranian movies on a weekly basis for its members and everyone else who is interested.
 The choice of movies has been carefully made to depict a variety of every-day as well as well-established societal issues of current Iran including women's right, freedom, religion, addiction, etc. Some movies have been nominated or acquired several important awards.   
IGSA officers also decided to ensure the movies include English sub-titles in order to absorb a broader body of audience. This has enabled many non-Persian speaking viewers to participate in our weekly movie night events and enjoy it. The number of people attending our movie nights have increased because of such factors in both Iranian and non-Iranian community. The following is a list covering some of the movies IGSA has screened the previous semester:
Tutles Can Fly, The Snowman, Low Heights, Ten, The Last Supper, Crimson Gold, May Lady, Unwanted Woman, etc.

Establishing Newcomers Chapter

01
Oct

A growing number of Iranian students join USC each semester. Relocating to a totally different country and environment, newcomers face numerous problems in their first couple of weeks of their entrance. To name some, they are very concerned about housing, banking, transportation, etc.
 
To share our experience and knowledge with new Iranian students, IGSA established a new chapter, “IGSA Newcomers Chapter”, which aims to welcoming new students and easing the impact of their relocation. For the first couple of weeks of spring 2006, we offered some programs to dispel the fear and confusion many new students might suffer. This chapter is planning to continue and promote these programs for future semesters to help newcomers with their settling process.
In order to help these students make a smooth transition into the life at USC and Los Angeles, five IGSA members as well as six officers teamed together and worked for two months to develop a program consists of following efforts:
• Developing a Website for Newcomers
• Airport Pickup
• Campus Orientation
• Information Sessions
• On-Campus Tours
• Off-Campus Tours

Developing a Website for Newcomers

01
Oct

IGSA Newcomers Chapter developed a website to address everything new students might need to start a life in the USC and Los Angeles. From vital housing information, to how to get a bank account, and even where to go shopping, this website contains useful information. We tried to provide information and How-To tips to guide newcomers through the complexities of the American system in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
 
Here is just a sample of its contents: 
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~igsa/newcomers/
Airport Pickup:
IGSA Newcomers Chapter is happy to provide free airport pick up for all new students arriving in Los Angels International Airport (LAX) We ask new students in advance about the exact date, time, and flight number of their arrival, and then we will arrange to pick them up during normal business hours and most evenings.
Campus Orientation:
Starting from spring 2006, IGSA Newcomers Chapter offers a Campus Orientation for newly admitted Iranian students to making their transition to life as a Trojan and to help them adapt to the life as a USC student.
In two four-hours special Campus Orientations, we tried to assist new students with academic requirements, expectations and performance standards, selecting and registering for the first-semester classes, using available services and resources and engaging them with Iranian and Persian life at USC.
Information Sessions:
In order to help new Iranian Trojans to become familiar with the life in the United States, campus and its resources, policies and procedures, etc IGSA held several information sessions on following topics:
 
 
During these information sessions, new students had the opportunity to meet current USC Iranian students, and to have their questions and concerns addressed in person.

Second Iranian Sport Olympiad

01
Oct

 

 
In this Olympiad the games were for having fun and strengthening the friendship as well as making new ones. Sport and competition comes second. Some snacks and beverages were provided at the place.
Schedule of event:
9:00 am: get together in the field, taking memorial picture
9:15 am: beginning of soccer matches
11:00 am: call for chess, running and arm wrestling matches.
11:15 am: start of chess matches
11:30 am. : 3 mile road running
12:00 pm.: Arm wrestling matches
3:00 pm.: end of sport event.
6:30 pm.: gathering of poker players at the same field to head to Poker tournament.
Attendance: 60
 http://www-scf.usc.edu/~mourhatc/