By: Danielle Collins ‘20

Did you know that less than 50% of all US college students voted in the 2016 elections? And that was for a presidential election. This year’s general election takes place on November 6th. And no matter where you’re from, you should be voting this November! No excuses! I’ve already sent in my absentee ballot from Spain, so I promise you can do the same from wherever you are– whether it’s USC, or somewhere abroad. Here is the information you need to request your absentee ballot if you’re voting within the US (i.e. all of you at USC!).

By: Camila Grases ‘21

Listen, there are two kinds of people in this world: (1) The “I’ve been on thousands of night hikes, I basically have night vision, and darkness is my friend” person or (2) The “I enjoy the night from the comfort of my own home, nature is definitely nice but maybe not when I’m outside, because there may be ghosts here” person. Honestly, I’m the second. I am afraid of the dark (just scared of a lot of things really), so when my team brought up the idea of a night hike, I was a bit hesitant. The more I thought about it, though, the more excited I got. Sometimes, it’s the things we are most afraid of that give us the most pleasure. Compared to other thrill-seeking events, hiking is a relatively mundane activity. If you really think about it, it’s just glorified walking. So, we add a little spice. Go at night, in the hills of LA, to watch a city that is more beautiful in the dark than it is in the light. Trust me, it’s worth it.

By: Talia Walters ‘20

In the face of recent events both on and off campus, it is necessary that we open the conversation about Sexual Violence not only with our administration but also with each other. The problem is pervasive and growing. Among all undergraduate students on college campuses, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience sexual assault or rape. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the conversation surrounding sexual assault, I’d like to instead focus on the resources and advocacy groups available to USC students. While justice and retribution is necessary, conversations with a focus on healing and prevention often get pushed to the wayside despite being an important aspect for many assault survivors. Below is a compiled list of resources depending on your situation. It is important to remember that assault can happen to anyone; these resources are available to you regardless of gender, sexual orientation, and experience, so please reach out if you feel as though it may be helpful.

By: Awo Jama ‘22

On September 27th, USC’s School of Dramatic Arts kicked off its 2018-2019 season with its production of “Kentucky,” a two-act play written by Leah Nanako Winkler and directed by Tim Dang. I had the pleasure of attending the show on its Friday performance, and was incredibly enchanted by both the expertise of the performers and the dimensionality of the story they conveyed. “Kentucky” centers around a headstrong young woman named Hiro, who, after escaping from her native Kentucky and the emotional traumas it dealt her, relocated to New York City, where she has been living and working for the past 7 years. After learning that her younger sister Sophie, who in her absence has become a born-again Christian, is to be wed to a man she has only been seeing for 6 months, Hiro storms her old town to talk some sense into her. What ensues is a hilarious yet heartbreaking narrative in which relationships are rekindled and shattered, and wounds are healed and formed.

By: Amy Wang ‘21

Many of us come to USC previously as some of the top students at our high school. We were the school presidents, the editors-in-chief, and the honor students. But when you gather all the great students and put them in one place, we are no longer the big fish, but rather one of many fish in a large pond. I was not spectacular in high school, but I definitely worked hard. I pushed myself to my limits, ate late, slept later if I slept at all. I came to USC expecting myself to and actually trying to do the same. I would say I achieved my goal my freshman year for the most part. And because I survived, I decided to try again my sophomore year this semester. The results… I crashed and burned, literally.

By: Jamie Wu ‘18 (Guest Blogger)

It’s not every day that you hear a song remixed to USC’s fingerprint scanner located in every freshman dorm on campus. But Michael Azuna, a junior from the Bay Area majoring in music industry and minoring in music production and known by his musician name AZU, did just that in the Spring of 2017. He posted this catchy and creative piece of work on the infamous USC Memes for Spoiled Pre-Teens Facebook page and it was an instant hit. Since then, the video has garnered over 3.5k views, coupled with high praise in the comments section. Trojans 360 sat down with him in an interview and asked about where the inspiration for the song came from. Check out the piece to find out more about how Michael came to make this creative piece of work!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

When Amber Rose walked into the room, I couldn’t help but nudge my neighbor and whisper anxiously: “She’s here!” The model, actress, and activist entered the room to a smattering of applause, her blonde-headed entourage bobbing behind her. The event hadn’t even started, but a respectful hush had fallen over the crowd, everyone ready to absorb empowerment and knowledge. On Tuesday, October 2, I attended OpenEd: A Fireside Chat with Amber Rose, hosted by USC Dornsife and The Amber Rose Foundation. It was an event to promote open dialogue and education about sex positivity, rape culture, gender inequality, and digital activism. With Amber Rose herself as the discussion mediator, there were four women panelists: Shafika Ahmadi, Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the Rossier School of Education; Genie Harrison, a trial lawyer with her own law firm, and recognized by Best Lawyers in America; Liz Havstad, executive director and COO of Hip Hop Caucus, a civil and human rights organization; and Nicole aBeckett, the cofounder of SameSide, an organization that uses art, music, and culture to make political action more accessible. This was certainly an esteemed group of women, and they perched on their little stools, smiling out at us like elegant queens.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Hello, all! I hope your semester has been going well and that you are all taking care of yourselves. While I am a bit late on posting this, I firmly believe in “better late than never!” If you haven’t heard yet – it’s a very special time of the year for me and my fellows Latinx/Hispanic folks:

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

In my opinion, study abroad opportunities are one of the best parts of going to USC. I’m currently studying abroad in Madrid, Spain and absolutely LOVING it! If you’re considering study abroad, it can be daunting to decide where to go. There are so many amazing places to choose from…how can you be sure you pick the right place for you? Read on to find out!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

It may be autumn but it won’t be cooling down (much). Here are some of my favorite ice cream stores in LA that are easily accessible by public transport from USC. This list is not for the weak of heart, all of these stores are known for their unique (and unconventional) flavors so explore with an open mind!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

Here we are, already getting into the swing of things on campus! We’ve moved in, had reunions with our friends, knocked out the cobwebs from the summer and… now it’s time to actually get some work done. What? I know, I sort of miss summer too, but it’s time to buckle down. How can you start this semester off right so you don’t end up sobbing into your textbooks in the back of Leavey Library come midterms? (Unfortunately, I think we’ve all been there.) Here are some great tips that worked last semester to keep me sane.

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

Hopefully you had a chance to go the Involvement Fair last week. Great! Now you’re probably wondering what to do with all the flyers you got, email lists you joined, and information you received. It can be hard to narrow it down. Here are some tips for what to do next: