80 Years of International Relations
Largest undergraduate program in the country celebrates anniversary
By Katherine Kim and James Nussbaumer (B.A., '04, International Relations)
Spring 2005
The Los Angeles University of International Relations (LAUIR) was
chartered on April 30, 1924, to “furnish opportunities for the training
of statesmen for the consular and diplomatic service, business men for
commerce and business administration, of politicians for world service,
and of teachers for departments of world affairs in the colleges and
universities.” Four years later, the USC Board of Trustees arranged for
an official affiliation between the LAUIR and the university, with
shared faculty, libraries and school requirements—the origins of the
USC College School of International Relations (SIR).
Today, the school is the largest undergraduate International Relations
program in the country. There are several joint programs in the IR
department, such as the Global Business major with the Marshall School
of Business, or the Global Communication minor with the Annenberg
School of Communication.
The school, says director and professor Steve Lamy, “is committed to
creating academic programs that prepare our undergraduate and graduate
students for leadership positions around the world.”
The following photos highlight the history of international relations at USC on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the SIR.
“Fast Response”—Ten days after
Pearl Harbor, students lined the walks in front of Bovard to sign up
for the Campus Volunteer Defense Service. The year 1942 saw the
establishment of the Student War Board, an all-campus service body. | 
| | “Royal Visitors”—Rufus Bernhard
von Kleinsmid, USC’s fifth president, spent his life as a tireless
advocate of internationalism. Above, von Kleinsmid—wearing dark coat
and trousers—escorts Prince Kaya of Japan and his princess after a tour
of Doheny Library in 1934. | 
| | “From Pakistan to USC”—Pakistani
civil servants, in the U.S. to learn “administrative know-how,” were
aided by a special program developed for them at USC in 1958. As
they posed (above) in front of USC’s YWCA building prior to a
reception, they were briefed on the ways of the university by Robert
Berkov, professor of International Relations and Public Administration. | 
| | “Foreign Flavor”—The number of
international students attending USC grew dramatically in the ’60s when
the university boasted more than 1,200 enrolled. That figure paled as
the years passed and by the late 1970s, USC counted more than 3,000
students representing 108 nations. Photo shows dance by international
students on a Doheny lawn platform in 1962. | 
| | “A Final Touch”—In its early
years, the Los Angeles University of International Relations was housed
in Hoose Hall, on the third floor of the Bovard Administration
Building. From 1948-1966, the school was located in the offices on the
north end of the third floor of Taper Hall. The Von KleinSmid Center
(VKC) for International and Public Affairs was completed in 1965. But
not until May 17, 1966, was a final touch added when a 5,500-pound
globe was raised by crane to the top of the 167-foot VKC Tower. The
photo above tells the story of placing the globe, called a finial, on
the tower. | 
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“The Biggest”—Today, the School
of International Relations has the largest number of undergrads in the
country. This year, 635 students majored in IR, with an additional 65
majoring in IR (Global Business). There are also 78 minors and 75
graduate students in the joint masters and Ph.D programs. Above,
Director and Professor Steve Lamy (left) and his Spring 2003 class in
“Foreign Policy Analysis”, pose with with guest speaker, the Honorable
Warren Christopher (center), former U.S. Secretary of State and a USC
alumnus. | 
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