UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG

Trojans360 Articles
Break Out of the USC Bubble— LA Service Opportunities
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
I’m sure you’ve heard someone say it before: we live in the USC bubble. Whether we like to admit it or not, there’s some truth behind that statement. I totally get it— USC is a great place and I want to spend as much time soaking it up in the 4 years I’m here as I can. But you can still soak up USC’s awesome-ness even once the bubble is popped. One of the best ways to break out of the USC bubble is getting involved with service opportunities in the LA area. And, trust me, there are a lot of them. Not only will you become more aware of the community we live in outside of USC’s campus, but you’ll be helping others and have some great experiences to grow along the way.
Places to Go That Aren’t the Row
By: Joy Ofodu ‘18
I remember dressing up in wacky costumes every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night as a freshman (yup, throwing it back to Fall 2014, folks) jumping from house to house, looking for adventure and hiding from trouble. 28th Street and I were new to each other then: I graciously tied hair, passed out water bottles and ushered giggling floormates away from the ragers, the comforting blue glow of DPS Emergency light-posts guiding us home. Over the next three semesters, visits to The Row came fewer and farther between. I found community, meaningful (audible) conversation and good vibes in so many other places on and off campus that I didn’t need to lean on The Row anymore. As a Sober Trojan and non-Greek, we simply grew apart. If you or someone you know is looking to get away from 28th Street, I have a few ideas.
Celebrating Feminist Accomplishments in Music: FemFest 2017
By: Terry Nguyen ‘20
On Friday, April 5, USC hosted its fifth annual FemFest, a festival dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and promoting women within the music industry. The event was made possible through the joined efforts of various feminist organizations on campus, including the Undergraduate Student Government, USC’s Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment, and MUSE at USC. On the Facebook page, USG Program Board and USC FemFest also contributed to hosting the event. FemFest 2017 was a six-and-a-half hour event that took place in Founder’s Park, starting at 5 p.m. with a variety of female musicians headlining the show. The event was free and open to the public, featuring local community vendors, musicians, and even members of the Trojan family.
Hapa Japan Concert 2017 Recap
By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19
From February 22-26, the Japanese American National Museum and USC hosted the 2017 Hapa Japan Festival for the Los Angeles community. The festival featured events such as film screenings, discussions, and performances to celebrate multicultural voices and identities. I had the opportunity to attend the Hapa Japan concert featuring Kina Grannis, Marié Digby, Kris Roche, and Andy Suzuki & the Method.
Air + Style: Music Festival Recap
By: Terry Nguyen ‘20
What originated as a snowboarding competition 21 years ago in Innsbruck, Austria has grown to be a global event that merges the latest music and the sport into an unforgettable two-day experience. From Feb. 18 to Feb. 19, Air + Style brought the world’s best snowboarders to downtown Los Angeles’ Exposition Park and rising artists, like Grammy-award winning DJ Flume and USC alumnus ZHU. Despite rain or shine, the festival went on for both days from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., and crowds gathered enthusiastically between the Winter and Summer stages throughout the course of the afternoon into late evening. Their energy did not quell between the sets, as hundreds of people bunched towards the front of the stage, anxiously awaiting their favorite artists.
Women’s March Los Angeles
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
Last Saturday, millions of people around the world took to the streets to march for women’s rights, our human rights. The New York Times assembled a photo from each city’s Women’s March, from Nairobi to Lima, Tel Aviv to Sydney (and, of course, dozens of U.S. cities). I get chills each time I scroll through the images of the different demonstrations (and not just when I catch a glimpse of the Antarctica march). What a tremendous display of unity: women make up over half of the world’s population and will not be silenced.
Ask A Trojan: How to Explore LA
By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19
Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the world. It has it all: endless food options, star-studded entertainment scene, vibrant nightlife, historical and modern museums - you name it. A while ago, someone asked us about the different ways to get around and explore LA. Here is my guide to exploring LA - from transportation options, recommended places to go, and other ways you can go out and experience it all.
Sun’s Out Buns Out: How to Beat the Heat in LA
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
For one, go to The Beach! A fast cure from the summer heat is a trip to the beach! Check out my blg post West Coast Best Coast for the 6 Must-Visit Beaches in sunny California. I love taking a self-care day and heading to the beach with my girls. Whether you simply want to lay out and soak in the sunshine or take a dip in the ocean here are some of the things you can do at the beach.
What Your Summer Housing Says About You
By: Kelly Kinas ‘16
Now that graduation as passed and the summer months are upon us, a majority of USC’s population is scattered across the country. Whether you’re back home or chilling in student housing over the summer or even in a brand new city for an internship, THIS is what your summer housing and living situation says about you (from a random USC student’s opinion)!
West Coast Best Coast: 6 Beaches You Need To Visit
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
Sometimes we forget how spoiled we are to bask in Califronia’s perfect weather. Albeit it can be drastic at times, for the most part the California sunshine never dissapoints. Here are the top 8 West Coast beaches you need to visit.
8 Instagram Worthy Photo Ops in LA
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
You’ve seen them in your feed posted by some of your favorite bloggers but now here’s your chance to grab some friends and roadtrip across the city to snap away at some of the most popular Instagram worthy photo locations.