Norman Corwin, an institution of American radio and a visiting professor at USC, has been hospitalized, and his interpretive writing class has been canceled for the semester.
Corwin was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after he said that he was not feeling well when he came in to teach on the first day of classes, said Geoffrey Baum, Annenberg School for Communication public relations director. Corwin found out that he had internal bleeding in his brain caused by a fall.
Doctor's performed surgery on Corwin Jan. 16 to remove the pressure on his brain. That night, they told him that he would be in the hospital for another four to five days.
Baum said Corwin is doing much better and is accepting calls and visitors.
Corwin is in rehabilitation because the left side of his body, which had been paralyzed, has gotten its movement back.
After two weeks of no class, students were informed Wednesday that the class was officially canceled.
Alexis Johnson, a senior majoring in print journalism and art history who was enrolled in Corwin's class this semester, was covering the Sundance Film Festival when she heard the news.
Student advisers have been making accommodations to try and place students so that they don't have any problems, Baum said.
Johnson said that her adviser, JaBari Brown, called her on her cell phone to notify her as well as help her to sign up for another class.
Because a lot of classes were already closed, she said she had few options and had to find a class that fit in with her schedule that was also open.
Johnson said Corwin seemed fine on the first day of classes.
"He was very enthusiastic about coming … He was responsive in class but he did ask the same questions a few times," Johnson said.
Michael Parks, director of the Annenberg School of Journalism, sent faculty members an e-mail informing them of Corwin's condition, said journalism professor Felix Gutierrez.
Parks told Corwin Friday that his class was canceled.
At first, Annenberg did not publicize the decision to cancel the class because they wanted Corwin to know before it was announced, Baum said.
Baum also said that Annenberg was concerned with timing because the focus is on his recovery.
Parks called Corwin Friday.
When professors cannot teach a scheduled class, Baum said Annenberg usually tries to find another professor to take over the class.
"Norman is such a unique professor, it's hard to find a replacement," especially since most students registered for the class because of Corwin, Baum said.
On Saturday afternoon, a few students visited the popular professor.
One of the students, Raquel Romero, a senior majoring in print journalism, said that Corwin's mind is as sharp as ever, and he is clever, witty and anecdotal.
Romero reminisced on Corwin's class she took last spring, when only six students enrolled.
"It was great to have this pioneer of radio dramas personally critiquing your work every week. That was really special," Romero said.
There will be a premiere screening in Annenberg Room G26 tonight for "A Note of Triumph," a feature documentary about Corwin's World War II famous radio address with the same title.
Baum said that Corwin will try to be on campus for the screening.
