UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG

Trojans360 Articles
Reviewing the Freshman Dorms: 2016-2017 Edition
By: Adriana Bernal Martinez ‘20
Next year, we’ll have McCarthy Honors College in The Village to consider as an additional option to the already present freshman dorms – but for now, I’ve taken upon the task of getting the scoop on current USC students’ reviews of their residence halls and suites for the 2016-2017 year. Here’s to hoping that this post compiling facts and feedback from the people that were in your shoes last year can help you incoming Class of 2021-ers a little bit in your housing preferences! It’s coming up a lot sooner than you think.
Smartphone Apps to better your USC Experience
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
The amount of time we spend on our phones has increased at a exponential rate over the last few years. Smartphone screens have gotten larger and processing power is greater than ever. That means tasks that required a laptop before can now be completed or viewed on a smartphone. Here’s a rundown of a few apps that will better your USC experience.
Meet the Blogger, Adri
By: Adriana Bernal Martinez ‘20
Hi there! I’m Adriana, Adri for short, and I’m a First-Year student studying Business Administration at the Marshall School of Business and minoring in French.
A Trojan’s Guide to Black History Month
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Every February we celebrate Black History Month, and recognize the achievements by black Americans and their role in US history. And now, thanks to USC’s Black Student Assembly (BSA), you don’t have to wonder about all the events set up to help everyone celebrate and learn more about Black History.
How to stay updated on all things USC
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
USC is a large school with over 44,000 students on campus. How does one keep up to date on what is happening on campus and off campus while trying to study all day and keep up with their Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram feeds? We have got a list for you:
USC Alternative Winter Break in French Polynesia
By: Rachel Bennett ‘18 and Ayman Siraj ‘18
As the sun set at the heart of the island, we were welcomed to a feast. In the middle of the Tahitian jungles, local men and women pulled colorful foods from a traditional earth oven set deep into the ground.
Gender-Based Violence in Asian-American Communities
By: Shannon Lam ’19
I was 10-years-old when I was first sexually harassed. I was at the grocery store with my parents. Normally, I stick by my parents, walking next to the cart, admiring the vast options of chips and cookies. However, at one point, my mom realized we had forgotten to grab the milk. Me, adventurous and trying to be as independent as a 10-year-old could be, offered to quickly go grab it. My mom was hesitant at first, but since the milk aisle was just a few aisles down, she let me go. It was only for a brief second, but as I leaned into the fridge to pick up the milk, I felt a hand on my butt. I turned around and a middle-aged man quickly walked past me. At first, I didn’t think much of it. Maybe I was taking up too much room in the empty aisle, maybe I was in the way, maybe it was my fault. When I walked back to my mom, there was a sinking feeling that was hard to describe at 10-years-old. Something didn’t sit right with me. I felt lost, I felt guilty, I felt violated. At 10-years-old.
Improve your Personal Brand - for students!
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
Winter Break is almost upon all of us. At this point, some of us are steaming ahead studying for finals. While for many of us, the thought of getting on the flight back home is enough to keep us from studying efficiently. Whichever boat you maybe on, the festive season brings with it a sense of reinvigoration. How does the college student make for a productive holiday? Here are five suggestions on how you can work on self-branding over the holidays:
The Benefits of Attending a Student Conference
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
Last week the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) at USC and the USC Chem-E-Car Team attended the national AIChE conference in San Francisco. Every year AIChE takes about 10-15 students to the national conference so that students and can mingle and network with other students studying chemical engineering in the United States and around the globe. This year 26 students could attend due to it being near Los Angeles.
Food Delivery around USC
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
The other day a friend and I broke into conversation regarding how our eating habits had changed suddenly in junior year. I personally used to cook most of my meals my sophomore year but that all changed this year. I had no clue how to cook, I used to watch YouTube videos and cook my favorite dishes. In the beginning they were bland and probably only palatable to my taste buds because my conscious would beg me to do justice to the hard work I had put into cooking my meal. I steadily improved my cooking to a point where I have friends come over for meals sometimes. Let me define sometimes at the rare weekend where I wake up on a Saturday morning and don’t have a panic attack on all the work I have to get done.
SC Spotlight: USC Taiwanese American Organization
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
USC Taiwanese American is an organization on campus geared towards promoting the awareness and exploration of Taiwanese culture on the USC Campus. Trojans 360 sat down with the executive board members of USC TAO, Ivy Yang (VP External) and Marissa Di (VP Internal) to learn more about the organization and its activities.
SC Spotlight: Peaks and Professors
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
Peaks and Professors is an organization on campus geared towards connecting students with professors through outdoor trips. Trojans 360 sat down with the co-presidents of Peaks and Professors, Thomas Donovan and Peter Bergmann to get some deeper insights into Peaks and Professors!