Fall Sem Welcome Party - Sunday 9/4, Ground Zero

Hi all,
We are going to party... and we are going to party like crazy!

What: Fall welcome (back) party
What more: Desi Food, music spun by DJ Varun, lots of Dhamaal
Also, a Jukebox so that you can request the song of your choice for just a quarter [25cents!]
When: Sunday, Sep 4th, 7:30pm onwards [no IST... come on time - we are expecting quite a crowd!]
Where: Ground Zero Coffee House [behind the REG building]
Cost: FREE.. for everyone.. and we mean everyone [members/non-members/Indians/Non-Indians/Trojans/non-Trojans...]!

So remember.... this Sunday... 7:30pm... Ground Zero.... don't miss it!
USC-AIS

AIS: This Week: Orientation [repeat] and Cake and Cream Social

Hi all,
Welcome to the Fall Semester at USC. The AIS wishes you all great success in your academic endeavors.

The Malibu trip and the India Day Function were fun. The pictures will be posted soon.

Coming up:
1. This Tuesday, Aug. 22, 8pm @ THH [room TBD] : New Student Orientation - for those who missed the first one.
On public demand, we are organizing the student orientation again. New students, please mark the timings.
Once again, we need the help of senior students to guide the new ones. The Course advisement will begin 45 minutes after the event starts. So seniors, if you can help out, please do the following:
- email india@usc.edu with the subject "volunteer for advisement" and let us know your Name, Course and Major
- Be at THH at 8:30pm. One of our volunteers will meet you outside and coordinate with you.

2. This Saturday, Aug 27, 2pm @ TSC Basement : First Cake 'n' Cream Social
This is the time when we all get together and have fun, in addition to some ice cream and cake. So come to Topping Students Center basement this saturday afternoon at 2, and chill out with fellow desis!
Attractions include:
- Pool Table
- TT Table
- CarromBoard
- Special this week: QUIZ !! We shall be having a quiz competition at this Cake and Cream Social and will be giving away prizes.
Please note that this is a members-only event, but we will be taking memberships on the spot. It is $15 for the whole year, and includes free access to all our events, and extras like 15% discount at India's Tandoori Restaurant.

That's it for now folks, any comments/suggestions are most welcome at india@usc.edu.
If you are still not on our mailing list, please join it at http://www-scf.usc.edu/~india/subscribe.php

best regards,
Association of Indian Students
india@usc.edu
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~india/
http://uscais.blogspot.com

AIS Newsletter, Aug 18, 2005

Hi all,
In this issue [Aug 18, 2005] of the AIS newsletter:

0. Today, Aug 18, AIS E-board meeting@THH ... all are invited.
1. Pics of I-day flag hoisting posted
2. This Saturday, Aug 20, trip to Hiking on the Malibu Hills followed by chilin' at the beach
3. This Sunday, Aug 21, I-day function
4. This Sunday, Aug 21, USC free scrimmage.. immediately after I-day function
5. Next Tuesday, Aug 23, New Student Orientation
6. Next Saturday, Aug 27, Cake and Cream Social and Quiz Competition
7. Next Sunday, Aug 28, Movie Screening and Maharashtra flood relief fund raiser
8. Openings on the HSO Board
9. Membership for 2005-06 : Free access and 15% discount at India's Tandoori
10. Are you on the mailing list yet?


0. Today, Aug 18, AIS E-board meeting@THH ... all are invited.
We are meeting at THH tonight at 8pm to plan our immediate events, as well as prepare an event calendar for the semester. We have met some of you in our previous meeting and some more have showed interest in joining the board at the international students fair. Please do come and lets get down to some serious business!


1. Pics of I-day flag hoisting posted
More than 50 people fought the sleep demon and showed up at the 7am flag hoisting on August 15. The pictures are online at http://uscais.blogspot.com/2005/08/flag-hoisting-vande-matram.html

2. This Saturday, Aug 20, trip to Hiking on the Malibu Hills followed by chilin' at the beach
Here are the details of the proposed trip to the Malibu beach and the hills nearby. Please RSVP by Thursday 10pm by sending an email to india@usc.edu with the term "Malibu trip" in the subject line.

More information about the park.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

- Gather at Jefferson Blvd./Vermont Blvd. at 7.30 AM Saturday
- Students start leaving with one Volunteer at 7.45 AM

- Last batch leaves at 8.15 AM

- ALL REACH MALIBU BEACH BY 10.20 AM

- From there we start at 11.00 towards the mountains by PLS Bus (available every 20-40 minutes)

- We reach mountains: Do trekking, hiking, enjoy waterfalls etc. for about 2 hrs

- At 1.00 we have LUNCH at mountain top

- There is an entire MALIBU COUNTRY MART (Shopping Center) at MALIBU BEACH. In has many cafes & places to eat but it may get tough to find food for desis. [Veggie Sandwich starts at USD 6.00]

So it is a nice place to ROAM but everyone will have to BRING THEIR OWN LUNCH

ALSO BRING LOTS OF WATER.

- At 1.30 we again takes PLS Bus and descend

- At 2.30 we reach MALIBU BEACH

- Enjoy the beach for about 4 HRS

- Returning starts at 4.30 PM from Malibu Beach (This batch will reach USC by 6.10 PM)

- Last Batch starts from Malibu Beach at 6.25 PM (They reach USC by 7.40PM)

Cost of TRIP: USD 3 for Metro + food

Bus Schedules:

STEP (1): GOING TO MALIBU

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Start at 7.45 AM (final batch can leave at 8.15)

Starting at JEFFERSON BLVD/VERMONT AV

Ride METRO BUS 204 (VERMONT- HOLLYWD BLV) heading north

From: VERMONT AV/JEFFERSON BL(SE corner)

To: VERMONT/VENICE(SE corner)

204

07:56AM	08:02AM	6 mins
08:07AM	08:13AM	6 mins
08:19AM	08:25AM	6 mins
08:31AM	08:37AM	6 mins
08:43AM	08:49AM	6 mins
08:54AM	09:00AM	6 mins

754 (need to walk)

07:56AM	08:02AM	6 mins
08:04AM	08:10AM	6 mins
08:12AM	08:18AM	6 mins
08:20AM	08:26AM	6 mins
08:28AM	08:34AM	6 mins
08:36AM	08:42AM	6 mins
08:44AM	08:50AM	6 mins
08:52AM	08:58AM	6 mins
08:59AM	09:06AM	7 mins

From Vermount/Venice: 3 Batches

08:24AM	09:17AM	53 mins
08:38AM	09:31AM	53 mins
09:11AM	10:04AM	53 mins

Ride METRO BUS 434 (MALIBU PCH - TRANCAS) heading west

From: VENICE/VERMONT(NW corner)

To: CROSS CREEK RD/MALIBU THEATRE(SE corner)

ALL REACH MALIBU BY 10:04AM

STEP (2): RETURN FROM MALIBU

Start at 4.10 PM (last batch can leave at 5.47 PM)

Reach USC at 5.35 (last batch can/will reach at 7.00)

04:13PM	05:26PM	1 hr, 13 mins
04:43PM	05:56PM	1 hr, 13 mins
05:14PM	06:23PM	1 hr, 9 mins
05:47PM	06:54PM	1 hr, 7 mins
06:27PM	07:30PM	1 hr, 3 mins

Starting at 3835 CROSS CREEK RD

Ride METRO BUS 434 (WASHINGTON - FAIRFAX VIA PT DUME) heading south

From: CROSS CREEK RD/3835 CROSS CREEK RD

To: VENICE/VERMONT(SE corner)

FROM VENICE/VERMOUNT

05:27PM	05:33PM	6 mins
05:37PM	05:43PM	6 mins
05:47PM	05:53PM	6 mins
05:57PM	06:03PM	6 mins
06:07PM	06:13PM	6 mins
06:17PM	06:23PM	6 mins
06:27PM	06:33PM	6 mins
06:39PM	06:45PM	6 mins
06:49PM	06:55PM	6 mins
07:04PM	07:10PM	6 mins
07:20PM	07:26PM	6 mins
07:34PM	07:40PM	6 mins
07:49PM	07:55PM	6 mins
08:04PM	08:10PM	6 mins

3. This Sunday, Aug 21, I-day function
This Sunday morning from 9-11am, we shall be having a small cultural function on the occasion of Independence Day. The members of the "Anubhavam" group at USC will be performing.
When: Sunday, Aug 21, 9am - 11am
Where: THH [Room TBD]

4. This Sunday, Aug 21, USC free scrimmage.. immediately after I-day function
Following the function, all desis are invited to move to the LA colesium where we shall attend a free scrimmage by the USC Football team!

5. Next Tuesday, Aug 23, New Student Orientation
Due to public demand, we will be doing another round of orientation, for those of you who missed the first one held on August 8.
When: Tuesday, Aug 23, evening [time TBD]
Where: THH [room TBD]

6. Next Saturday, Aug 27, Cake and Cream Social and Quiz Competition
Our first member-only event, the cake and cream social, will be held on the next Saturday. More details in the next newsletter. The game of the day will be quiz, along with the usual informal games, pool, ping-pong and carrom.. and yes.. cake and ice-cream for all.
When: Saturday, Aug 27, afternoon
Where: TBD

7. Next Sunday, Aug 28, Movie Screening and Maharashtra flood relief fund raiser
We all are aware of the devastation caused by the massive rains in Maharashtra. AIS will be organizing a movie screening as a fundraiser event for helping the victims of the tragedy. More details in the next issue of the newsletter.
When: Sunday, Aug 28, afternoon
Where: TBD

8. Openings on the HSO Board
Our friends at the Hindu Student Organization are looking for board members. Here is an announcement from their president, Vidya.

HSO Is looking for a few good board members!

The Hindu Student Organization has two open positions on it's board
for the 2005-2006 school year. We are looking for a new Webmaster and
a Graduate Student Representative. Here's what each position entails:

Web Master
a) Maintain e-mail account and list-serve
b) Maintain and regularly update HSO website
c) Keep an electronic archive of HSO events (pictures, fliers,
programs, etc)
d) Manage sign-ups for HSO events (excluding Diwali)

Graduate Student Representatives
a) Be in charge of boothing
b) Make fliers for events
c) Book classrooms for meetings and such
d) Make banners
e) Maintain correspondence with AIS meetings
f ) Work with the Public Relations representative.

An organization is only as good as the people in it, so we are looking
for dedicated people to help make HSO a success. If you have any
questions or are interested in the position, please contact Vidya at
vmurthy@usc.edu. Thanks!!!

9. Membership for 2005-06 : Free access and 15% discount at India's Tandoori
The AIS membership fee for the year 2005-06 is $15. As always, the membership gives you free access to all our events, and goodies like free desi food at Diwali. But this year, we have another added benefit. AIS members get a 15% discount at India's Tandoori Restaurant at Pico/Fairfax.

You can become a member at any of our events, just look out for the board members!

10. Are you on the mailing list yet?
A lot of you are.. and a lot of you aren't. We strongly request all to visit http://www-scf.usc.edu/~india/subscribe.php and get on the list. We have a lot of stuff planned this year and would hate to miss you on any one of them. Visit http://uscais.blogspot.com/2005/07/automatic-mailing-list-subscription.html for more.

Flag Hoisting! Vande Matram!

It was great to see that more than 50 people showed up for the 7am flag hoisting on 15th August!

The I-day Cultural Program will be held this weekend. Watch out for our newsletter for the details!

Here are some pics [thanks to Anupam Jain for the snaps].

USC-AIS.

Course Guidance and General Orientation

Hi all,
The Association of Indian Students is organizing the New Students' Orientation, which will also include guidance on choosing courses at USC, apart from answering the questions on house and job hunting etc.

What: New Students Orientation and Course Councelling
When: Monday, August 8, 2005, 8pm
Where: THH [room TBD]

All Seniors are requested to please come over and guide the juniors.They need your guidance.

If you are a senior and are coming, please post a comment on this post and mention your major also.

Thanks and Best regards
USC-AIS
india@usc.edu
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~india
http://uscais.blogspot.com

P.S. Remember to join our announcements list to keep up to date with desi events.
P.P.S. Tonight [8/6/05], Junoon concert at the Coliseum... go for it!

GPSS Gradbar: August 17th, 2005... dance on!

The GPSS Before School Grad Bar at Spider Club
USC grad students are guaranteed FREE admission with NO LINE between 9:30-10:30 pm--GET THERE EARLY!!
When: Wednesday, August 17th
Where: 1735 North Vine @ Hollywood Blvd., 323.462.1307
RSVP to: gradbar@hardballproductions.com
Questions: gpsssoc@usc.edu

Junoon at LA!

Hey all you Junoon fans,

Remember to be there at the LA Coliseum this Saturday!

For more details, visit PAK DAY LA website.

Cheers
USC-AIS.
P.S. wait for our I-day announcement... 15th august... we hoist the tricolor!

Want to get involved?

Hi all,
The sem is about to begin and the AIS is looking for fresh blood to
man the stations. Our first set of events are lining up, including
desi fresher orientation, I-day celebrations, fresher outing, fall sem
welcome party etc.

So all you enthusiastic people are invited to come to THH first floor
[room undecided] this thursday at 9pm for the first volunteer meeting
of this semester.

When: Thu, August 4, 2005. 9pm
Where: THH [Taper Hall of Humanities, on trousedale parkway, north of
Bovard auditorium]
What: Come, check us out and see where you fit in. We will be
discussing about our upcoming event, vision for the year, and more
about the work at AIS.

Briefly, the AIS board takes care of the following:
1. Campus Affairs
2. Publicity
3. Marketing
4. External Relations
5. Programming/Event Management
6. Finance
7. Website/Tech

So, if you are ready to take the plunge, or are just curious to know
more about the AIS, please drop by. 9pm, this thursday, THH.

See you all there!
USC-AIS
india@usc.edu
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~india/
http://uscais.blogspot.com/

P.S. For the incoming students, it will also be a nice opportunity to
meet peers and discuss issues that you are facing.