University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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Above Left TAKING THE PLUNGE -Robert Girandola uses the water weighing tank to measure the percentage of body fat on Chris Schatter. Left UNHEALTHY SOCIETY -Exercise bicycles in the empty Biomechanics laboratory patiently wait to take daring students for a ride. Above: BREATHE DEEPLY- Mario Pace tests the oxygenation of his cardiovascular system as he works out on the treadmill. Exerciae Science 27

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New Major Is Working Out With the recent turn toward a health- oriented society, a new major called Ex- ercise Science has stirred great interest on campus. In only its second year, the constantly growing program has 100 stu- dents. Exercise Science examines the scien- tific aspects of human movement Stu- dents use human subjects to examine the effects of exercise on the body. Simulat- ing environmental conditions, exercise scientists conduct research in the Biome- chanics laboratory. Bob Girandola, ad- visor for the program, emphasizes the opportunities available to students within the major. They have the unique experience of getting involved with fac- ulty in actual research on humans, he says. Students are required to spend time in the lab and often help with graduate research: studying the effects of long term exercise or investigating carbohy- drate resythesis, the necessity of replen- ishing the body with food after exercise. Future research includes measuring pol- lution ' s impact on performance and ex- ercise an important topic for the ' 84 Oljonpics. Girandola is also seeking the chance to test Olympic athletes. USC athletes from several sports currently participate in testing. Professional opportunities for those majoring in Exercise Science include physical therapy, medicine, athletic training or graduate degrees in Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology. a:. ggiiatif- - -- - ■• ' ■■ ■ ' • • • ■ ■ ■!■ 26 ExerdM Science

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In the year ninetecn-hundred-cighty-two, our modern educa- tional institution stepped backward in time to explore the Middle Ages. Delving into our mysterious past, students ex- perienced many facets of The Medieval World , USC ' s inau- gural Theme Year program sponsored by the Center for the Humanities. Students explored medieval art, philosophy, lit- erature and politics throughout the year in two unit courses. Rarely do students have an opportunity to select a number of courses focusing on a theme, says Moshe Lazar, a profes- sor of Comparative Literature and organizer of this year ' s program. The Medieval World was highlighted in March by a Medieval Laughter symposium, a look into comic and grotesque genres throughout the Middle Ages. Students par- ticipated in a weekend of seminars by distinguished medi- evalists, the American premiere of the Polish film The Kni ght , and an outdoor performance of a fifteenth century Dutch drama. Possible future Theme Year topics include gender studies, creativity and romanticism.