Daily Trojan USC.edu

by Sumayya Ahmad

President Steven B. Sample welcomed the class of 2009 and advised them to prepare for the future by pursuing diverse areas of study in the annual Student Convocation on Monday evening in Alumni Park. "The baccalaureate degree, ladies and gentlemen, is not what it used to be.

by Meilee Wong

Television personality Jamie Kennedy headlined the USC Program Board's Welcome Back Comedy Show Sunday night, playing to a McCarthy Quad audience of about 800 students. Kennedy, best known for his WB comedy show "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment" and movie roles in "Malibu's Most Wanted" and "Son of the Mask," was joined by his Experiment co-star, comedian Al Berman.

by Steven Chen

A student was in front of Founders Apartments at 1:04 a.m. Monday morning when two suspects approached the student with a gun and demanded his property, making it the second robbery this week and the fourth incident in August, DPS officials said. One of the suspects was described as an 18-to-20-year-old black male, weighing approximately 200 pounds and armed with a blue or gray steel revolver.

by Steven Chen and J. Christina Huh

The Los Angeles Police Department shut down several parties at fraternity houses Thursday, arresting two students and citing 24 to Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards. The Department of Public Safety called LAPD to the area, with 18 officers and a police helicopter responding, said Capt.

State Lost friend: Officials are trying to unravel the mystery surrounding a missing friend of singer Olivia Newton-John, the Los Angeles Times reported. Patrick McDermott was last seen on a sportfishing vessel that left out of San Pedro June 30. McDermott told friends he was going on an overnight fishing trip and was expected to return July 1, but his family became concerned when McDermott failed to attend a family event July 6.

To submit an item for Upcoming, send a fax to (213) 740-5666 or e-mail dtrojan@usc.edu Tuesday, Aug. 23 5:30 p.m.: The recreational sports department hosts USC Group Exercise Workout at the General William Lyon University Center Group Exercise Room until 6:30 p.

by Farhan Mahmood

Before Charles Plubell, a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering, sat in his first class or cheered at the Coliseum, he helped 20 other students plant the seeds of USC tradition at Solano Garden for the 10th anniversary of USC Friends and Neighbors Day.