Fall 2010 POWER Program: Michael Franzese

The Career Corner:Fall 2010 USC Career Fair

Student-Athlete of the Month

Health & Wellness Spotlight:Pumpkin Seeds

TAS Legislation

USC Anti-Hazing Policy

The POWER Program this semester was held on September 13 and featured an unforgettable speaker, Mike Franzese. His message: to warn student-athletes of the dangers that exist when organized crime overlaps with collegiate and professional gambling. At his peak he was making $5 to $8 million a week, most coming from a gasoline tax scheme. On top of that, he also admits to being involved in various scams involv-ing bankers, executives, union officials, professional athletes and student- athletes. Only after meeting his wife, Camille Garcia, did Franzese change his ways. At that point he pleaded guilty to racketeering, earning him a 10-year jail sentence, and did the unthinkable: walked away from the mob. What stood out the most to me from this presentation was how hon-est and open Franzese was with us. It was probably the most “real” Power Program presentation that I have heard thus far and that made it easy to trust him. This presentation also opened my eyes to how serious an issue gambling is. As a female soccer player, I didn’t think the risk of me get-ting in trouble with gambling even existed . Furthermore, fixing my own games had never even crossed my mind before; let’s face it, women’s soc-cer games aren’t exactly bet on very often. This is a very serious issue because of how easy it is to get involved and has the potential to get student athletes in a lot of trouble. Because of this presentation, I believe USC student athletes will be much smarter and a lot of trouble will be avoided. This really was an invaluable experience and I can’t thank Mike Franzese enough for taking the time to come out and talk to us.

- Brittany Kerridge

Made: The STory of Michael franzeSe

Over the past four years I have attended numerous POWER Programs, but none quite like the presentation held this month. Guest speaker Michael Franzese brought his incredible life experiences to current USC athletes through his explanation of the risks of gambling as shown through numerous anecdotes and examples. The former mafia underboss conducted a very honest and uncensored presentation, which many found

very uncharacteristic of a typical POWER Program. I felt that this style of presentation allowed everyone in the audience to really connect with the message that Franzese was trying to get across. It is one thing to be aware of the problems that gambling can create, but to actually hear a very per-sonal account of those dangers was a very different story. Franzese began his presentation with a brief movie of his life story, highlighting his down-fall from mafia royalty to a 10-year prison sentence. It was amazing to hear some of the details that Franzese shared with us, such as personally getting collegiate athletes to throw games in order to make a profit or how people lose their life savings on online gambling. The details about gambling wo-ven into Franzese’s life story proved to be the most captivating POWER Program yet. The general consensus leaving this month’s POWER Program was that this particular meeting would resonate with everyone for a long time to come. The sheer uncensored reality of what can occur with someone gets involved in gambling really opened my eyes in a new way. The main lesson that I took away from the POWER Program was that there is no real way to escape the life of gambling once you get involved.

- Ryan Cabral

“...the most captivating POWER Program yet.”

Job fairs are becoming a common method of entry level recruiting. Corporate recruits offer vast opportunities for student interviews in the shortest amount of time. For students, job fairs provide an excellent opportunity to meet with multiple employers in the same day. This year, more than 150 companies and organizations, such as AT&T, Ap-ple, Boeing and BP came to USC to recruit from the best. During the career fair, students can search for companies in which they are interested in working. All student-athletes should attend as it is a wonderful opportunity to explore some aspects of the corporate world. I think one should attend the career fair with the mindset, “There is nothing I can lose.” This event provides students with a good opportunity to practice their communication skills and how to behave in professional situations. Hav-ing a good first impression is extremely important when seeking a job and therefore, students must be prepared for the career fair. Students should make sure that they are dressed professionally and have their resumes ready for recruiters. It is never too early to practice and be prepared for what is coming in the future after graduation. There will be another career fair held on cam-pus in the spring semester. If you are not sure about yourself or have ques-tions and concerns, be sure to consult with your advisors and any upper-classmen for advice. Hope you see you there and good luck!

- Zoltan Povazsay

Magnesium is a vital nutrient that is involved in many important physi-ological processes, including muscle contraction, muscle relaxation, assists in muscle recovery and it plays a major role in cellular energy production! So if you are find-ing yourself low in energy you might want to think about how much magnesium you’re getting in your diet. One of the best and easiest ways to get magne-sium is by add

ing spinach and pumpkin seeds to your DAILY diet. In one cup of spinach you get 157 mg and 1 oz of pumpkin seeds gives you 150mg. The goal for adults is to get

300-400mg a day.

Given that it is the “pumpkin” season, you can toast your own pump-kin seeds and toss then into a salad or wrap

along with the spinach or grab a

handful of pumpkin seeds along with your

favorite fruit and have an ener-gizing snack!

Pumpkin Seeds and Your Performance

USC Student-athletes have shown great interest in getting involved in community service this 2010-2011 academic year and over the course of the next few weeks and months they will reach out and continue to make a difference. With opportunities ranging from the USC Choose to Fight on Fashion Show to Breast Cancer Aware-ness benefiting the Noreen Fraser Foundation on October 21 at the Galen Center Founders Room, Best Buddies, USC Friends and Neighbors Day on November 20th, and a variety of other outreach opportunities. The message remains the same; USC Student-Athletes care about giving back and making a difference in the greater LA area. Many teams will be out helping to raise awareness and lend a helping hand. To continue to make a difference, see Kyle Ross in SAAS to coordinate an event for your team.

Community Service Updates

Contact Kristy Morrell:213-740-7647 Heritage Hall, B30

This fall, the Trojan Athletic Senate will be voting on newly proposed NCAA amendments, ranging from sub-jects regarding amateurism to financial aid and sport spe-cific legislation. This research and voting is one of TAS’s most important responsibilities, as our voting is heard at every level of the decision-making process and influences the end results. For example, in recent years student-ath-lete support has aided the passage of the NCAA legislation

establishing Sand Volleyball as a new sport and allowing schools to provide breakfast fruit, nuts and bagels to student-athletes. Based on how each team votes, TAS as a whole will take a support, oppose or abstain stance on each proposed issue. Then, at the PAC-10 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meeting at the end of the semester, USC’sdelegates will voice our position and help shape the conference’s de-cision to support or oppose each piece of proposed legislation. Finally, the PAC-10 position on the issues will work with the collective NCAA student-athlete population, which will in turn shape the final voting for proposed amendments. Our rights and opportunities as student-athletes have been shaped by the decision-making of past Trojan student-athletes, and it is our respon-sibilityto do the same for our future teammates by making sure our voice is heard to ensure that we have the best experiences in competition, in the classroom and in the community.

- Greg Woodburn

TAS Legislation

PAC-10 SAAC MeetingTake CHARGE Community Service

The Career CornerHealth & Wellness SpotlightStudent-Athlete of the Month

In the next issue:

It’s just for fun! •But it’s tradition! • It’s Team Bonding! • Freshmen don’t care •It’s not that serious

ANTI-HAZING POLICY If I had to do it, then they have to do it•It’s a rite of passage•We didn’t know it would get out of control

HAZING IS ILLEGAL IN CALIFORNIA

Excerpt from the State of California Education Code:

32051. No student, or any other person in attendance at any public, private, parochial, or military school, community college, college, or other educational institution, shall conspire to engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person attending the institution.

The violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.

WHAT IS HAZING?

Hazing is any action taken or situation created intentionally:

that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule that risks emotional and/or physical harm for members of an organization or team despite of new or active membership regardless of the person's willingness to participate

Still confused? Ask yourself these questions:

• Will current members refuse to participate with the new members? • Does the activity risk emotional or physical abuse? • Is there a risk of injury or a question of safety? • Would you have any reservations describing the activity to your parents, coach, to a professor or University

official? • Would you object to the activity being photographed for the school newspaper or local TV news? • Would you feel comfortable participating in this activity if your parents were watching? • Would you get in trouble if Mike Garrett walked by? • Are you being asked to keep these activities a secret? • Does participation violate your personal values or values of your organization? • Is it causing emotional distress or stress of any kind to you or others?

HOW DO I REPORT A HAZING INCIDENT? If you think you have been hazed, know someone who has, or witnessed a hazing, please contact:

Dr. Magdi El Shahawy melshaha@usc.edu

213-740-0885

Toni VanEck antoniaa@usc.edu

213-821-0753 If you do not feel comfortable reporting to one of the designated contacts, please report to your SAAS counselor,

coach, or other administrator.

When you find yourself questioning if something is hazing, ask yourself:

Is it productive?

Is it degrading?

HAZING PROTOCAL/ CONSEQUENCES

All incidents of hazing will be reported to SJACS. In addition to any action that SJACS takes a meeting with Dr. El Shahawy, the head coach, and the involved student-athletes’ will be conducted to discuss appropriate consequences and punishments for the suspected hazing violation (i.e. suspension from practice, competition, and organized team activities). Pending the severity of the violation, Pat Haden (Director of Athletics) may be actively involved in the punitive process. After serving the determined penalty for the hazing infraction, a follow-up meeting with Dr. El Shahawy will be conducted with the student-athletes’/team involved in the hazing violation. In this meeting, Dr. El Shahawy will review the USC Anti-Hazing Policy, as well as provide clear examples of acceptable initiation activities. A representative from SJACS will also be in attendance.

USC’s ANTI-HAZING POLICY

University of Southern California Student Handbook The University of Southern California’s policy with respect to hazing prohibits any students from engaging collectively or individually in any of the following practices as a part of any programs or general activities. This list is intended to provide examples of hazing. As it is impossible to anticipate every situation that could involve hazing, this list should not be considered to be all-inclusive. For clarification of this hazing policy and what activities are included, contact the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards, The Office for Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development, or the Office of Campus Activities.

1. All forms of physical activity not a part of an organized athletic contest and not specifically directed toward constructive work.

2. The application of foreign substances to the body.

3. Such activities as scavenger hunts, which result in illegal activity, pledge ditches, kidnaps and the like.

4. Depriving students of sufficient sleep (eight consecutive hours per day minimum).

5. Not providing decent and edible meals (no unusual combinations or preparation, colored foods, etc.).

6. Depriving students access to means of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness (including a minimum of one shower per day).

7. Forcing, coercing or permitting students to eat or drink foreign or unusual substances such as raw meat, salt water, onions, etc.

8. Nudity or forcing or allowing students to dress in a degrading manner.

9. Forcing, coercing or permitting students to drink excessive amounts of any substance, including alcohol, water, liquids, foods or other substances.

10. Branding any part of the body.

11. Psychological hazing, which is defined as any act or peer pressure which is likely to: (a) compromise the dignity of any student affiliated with the organization, (b) cause embarrassment or shame to any student affiliated with the organization, (c) cause any student affiliated with the organization to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule, or (d) cause psychological harm or substantial emotional strain.

ACCEPTABLE INITIATION ACTIVITIES

Attending pre-season training Tests for skill, endurance, or performance in a

sport Keeping a specific GPA Dressing up for team functions (besides

uniforms)

Attending a skit night or team roast Doing volunteer community service Taking an oath or signing a contract of

standards