January 2016

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 28, 2016 — For the first time since 1985, the Super Bowl is being held in the heart of Silicon Valley and San Francisco’s South Bay. The Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers go head to head at Levi’s Stadium in the city of Santa Clara Feb. 7, 2016.

Experts from Santa Clara University can help journalists with stories on Silicon Valley, including the economic, racial and religious history of this area, which is a key driver of the U.S. economy, as well as the history and context of the iconic Mission de Santa Clara church, situated on Santa Clara University’s campus. Other experts can discuss additional aspects of Super Bowl 50, including myths and reality of whether “human trafficking” is expected to increase.

Note: for TV interviews in front of the Mission Church (500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, Calif., 95053) or in front of SCU's Bronco statue (at the corner of The Alameda and Market Street in Santa Clara, California) please contact one of SCU Media Relations team: Deborah Lohse, dlohse@scu.edu or 408-768-6898 (cell); Tina Vossugh, tvossugh@scu.edu or 408- 829-4836 (cell); or Deepa Arora, darora@scu.edu or 408-420-8127 (cell).

 
Experts and Stories:


The Mission at Santa Clara and the history of missions in California.
Director of the Mission Church at Santa Clara University, Charles White, can discuss the history of Santa Clara’s iconic Mission Santa Clara church, first established in 1777, as well as early California Mission history. He can be reached at clwhite@scu.edu or via Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations, 408-768-6898 (Cell).


Google and Apple and Facebook, and More... The economic powerhouses that drive Silicon Valley.
Santa Clara University economic historian Alexander Field can discuss the importance to the U.S. economy of the tech giants that are headquartered in Silicon Valley; the evolution of Silicon Valley’s economy; and the importance of the intellectual capital that is concentrated here. Prof. Field can be reached at afield@scu.edu or via Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations, cell number 408-768-6898.

Santa Clara University lecturer Michael Malone is a well-known writer on Silicon Valley and high-tech, including having written books on the founding companies of Silicon Valley as well as new trends in Valley innovation. He can be reached at msmalone@scu.edu or via Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations, cell number 408-768-6898.
 
Immigration, innovation, and integration: The thriving and not-so-thriving racial and religious diversity that underpins Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area – and how it got that way.
Santa Clara University professor of ethnic studies James Lai can discuss the rich cultural diversity in Silicon Valley/Santa Clara County, and how a combination of immigration, tech recruiting, and community formation has led to Silicon Valley being one of the most ethnically diverse -- though unequally prosperous -- regions in the United States. Prof. Lai can be reached at jlai@scu.edu or via Tina Vossugh of SCU Media Relations, cell (408) 829-4836.   
 
Santa Clara University Associate Professor of Religious Studies Philip “Boo” Riley  and religious studies lecturer Elizabeth Drescher can discuss the impact of local faith communities on Silicon Valley.  Prof. Riley studies and teaches ways in which local faith communities help define the Silicon Valley region. He teaches Ways of Understanding Religion, Religions@Silicon Valley and Solidarity in Silicon Valley. He can be reached at priley@scu.edu or at 408-554-2199.  He and Drescher, who teaches Religion in America and other courses, recently received a grant to work with congregations in Silicon Valley on digital initiatives. She can be reached at edrescher@scu.edu. Deborah Lohse can also help reach the professors: 408-768-6898 (cell).

Teams and Sports
Santa Clara University communication lecturer, Andrew W. Ishak studies teams and sports, and can speak on how teams prepare for an event like the Super Bowl; how sites are chosen for major sporting events like the Super Bowl (and why this may be the last one in this area for a long time); the cultural impact of a sporting event like the Super Bowl; and issues involving TV ratings and broadcasting contracts. He can be reached at aishak@scu.edu 408-857-4238 (cell) or via Tina Vossugh of SCU Media Relations, cell number 408-829-4836.


Super Bowl and Human Trafficking:
Lynette Parker and Ruth Silver Taube, professors and practitioners at Santa Clara University’s Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center, have been active for years in the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, which Parker co-founded. They can discuss concerns about human trafficking that emerge at big events like the Super Bowl, as well as the persistent problem in wealthy Silicon Valley of forced labor. Parker can be reached at lparker@scu.edu and Silver Taube can be reached at rsilvertaube@scu.edu. Deborah Lohse can also help reach them: 408-768-6898 (cell).

Jonathan Fung, accomplished filmmaker and installation artist at Santa Clara University, brings awareness to the problem of human trafficking ahead of Super Bowl 50. He has has been commissioned by the city of San Jose to create his public art installation, "PEEP," to address human trafficking. Fung can be reached at jwfung@scu.edu or through Tina Vossugh of Media Relations 408- 829-4836 (cell).