By: Kelly Kinas ‘17

For me, football season is never over. I love watching sports and cheering my team on, which happens to be one of the reasons why I chose USC. Lucky for me, USC football was good enough this year to be picked for the Holiday Bowl Game in San Diego, CA. It is a tradition of sorts with my family to go to a bowl game most winter breaks from either my current school or one of my parent’s Alma Maters. With San Diego being close to my hometown of Las Vegas, the plans were set and my family was going to watch our Trojans fight against the Cornhuskers.

By: Linda Chow ‘15

Traveling and teaching in the slums of India is definitely a memorable way to spend your winter break. The Alternative Winter Break India program enables students to travel to a foreign country and volunteer, while immersing themselves in an unfamiliar culture. When people think of India, the first things that come to mind are probably Bollywood movies and dancing, saris, Indian food, and elephants. However, if there is anything I learned from my experience abroad, there is so much more to India than meets the eye.

By: David Mandell ’15

Traveling to Thailand over winter break with a group of USC students is definitely unique winter break experience. Alternative Winter Break Thailand offers the opportunity for a small group to travel to a foreign country and teach English to children.

By: Lauren Brose ‘15

What exactly is the difference between an extrovert and an introvert? Most speculate that introversion is synonymous to shyness and being an extrovert means you have a very outgoing personality. I agreed with that statement until I did a bit of digging around. I became interested in this topic because I never identified myself as a full on extrovert although between the two I was definitely more so that than an introvert. I most precisely identified myself as a mix between the two. Friends would say “Lauren don’t be ridiculous you’re not a shy person at all” and although I wasn’t the shyest at the very least, I identified with a lot of the attributes I assumed an introverted person—that being, a lesser outgoing person—would possess.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘17

Unfortunately, not every one of your friends is lucky enough to go to USC. This university is exclusive and maybe your friends didn’t get in or chose to go somewhere else. Either way, USC is the best university and whether your friends know it or not, they wish they went here. When you go home and start telling people how amazing USC really is, it will probably make them jealous and sometimes friendships end because of jealousy. SO for you to keep your friends, here are some sarcastic examples of how to talk to your friends about USC that sound like bad things but are actually good.

By: Lauren Brose ‘15

Having a relationship during college is a fairly controversial matter—and by controversial I mean that depending on whom you ask, attitudes toward it varies. Many view their college years as a time to find themselves, make lifelong friends and discover our potential in the field(s) pursued. Often times, having a significant other just doesn’t fit in. I have friends who don’t see the logic in wasting their precious youth on a person they most likely won’t end up with. For them, the trade-off of focusing on themselves far exceeds focusing on a boyfriend or girlfriend. I don’t necessarily disagree with that. Relationships can be, at times, emotionally and mentally draining. It can also take up a lot of your time.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘17

Studying for finals can be difficult and while it is necessary, sometimes some small dogs can be ever more helpful. Every semester, USC and USG help sponsor an event where study snacks are a plenty and there are puppies to stroke. Outside the Leavey library on Thursday December 4th, Friday December 5th, and Monday December 8th, the University sponsored this exact activity, which definitely did brighten my day.

By: Lauren Brose ‘15

As a full-time USC undergraduate student, we are provided with 18 units each semester in our flat tuition rate. The average student typically enrolls in four 4-unit classes that satisfy their graduation requirements and let the extra 2 units go to waste. Consider taking a fun elective instead. 2 units at USC costs approximately $2,300! These classes can be taken pass/fail and won’t affect your GPA whatsoever (students are allowed 24 units of pass/fail). I went through the course catalogue and chose the most intriguing 2-unit elective classes USC is offering this spring to over in all disciplines. Learn to play an instrument or try a new form of dance. Whatever it is, have fun! :)

By: Kelly Kinas ‘17

So this guy walks into a classroom a couple minutes late and tries to find a seat near the front. He then gets up to talk in front of the room holding over 200 people. I would probably already be asleep if this was a normal classroom. But this is not a usual classroom. Usually, I wouldn’t expect this guy to be cussing, relating to the students, and encouraging these students to become more politically active and not simply take what the media gives them so willing. But on Monday, December 1st, at 8:00pm, a former speech writer for the President of the United States and a current comedy writer for NBC came to speak to talk about the complete and utter bull$#!t our media is consumed by and how to overtake that. Jon Lovett spoke in that classroom, bursting with students, and it was throughly entertaining as well as enlightening.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘17

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, whether they went home or stayed on campus! I went home for two days and came back in time for the Notre Dame Game (Fight on!) but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. That might have something to do with the fact that my birthday is November 29th ( today !! ) and Thanksgiving is the closest holiday. Truthfully, it probably has more to do with the food. For all of you who stayed at USC or didn’t get to celebrate, here is the rundown of my Thanksgiving and you can live out your holiday fantasies through these photos.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘17

Okay, we all know of these people or have the unfortunate luck to be living with them, but they are the people who are vindictive, passive aggressive, or just plain horrible roommates. You are not always going to enjoy who you are living with and skip off into the sunset. Life is going to be full of difficult people who are going to try to bring you down. Don’t let them. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you are either: 1. Oblivious and fine with everything (bless your pure, adorable soul) or 2. It’s you.

By: Matthew Freihofner ‘15

Trojans! For those of you who want to workout but want to get outside at the same time there’s great news. Cromwell field, across from the bookstore, just put in BRAND NEW outdoor fitness equipment. I personally love mixing it up and working out outside on the weekends. I’m especially excited to use the new equipment at Cromwell called a ‘Rogue Rig’. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, here’s what it looks like and what you can do with it.