By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

You may have heard of vegetarian and vegan diets. But what the heck is raw vegan? Let me explain. Raw veganism is a diet in which you don’t eat any meat or dairy products, and you don’t eat anything cooked. So what do you eat, you may ask? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouts. “Why would you do this to yourself?” This was a question my friends asked of me many times. My plan was actually to eat raw vegan for two weeks, and I wanted to do it as a sort of cleanse, so that I could have a fresh, healthy start for the new year. Except, two weeks didn’t really work out for me… But, we’ll get to that later. My goal for this raw vegan journey was to eat super fresh foods, cleanse my body, and maybe have glowing skin and silky hair by the end of it. Since I have a meal plan (and also for experiment’s sake), I planned to exclusively eat food from the dining hall. So, let’s begin!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Winter break flew by and here we are in the second week of Spring Semester. The add/drop deadline is fast approaching. Missed your registration? Didn’t get into the classes you want? Unhappy with the times of your lectures, labs or discussions? Here are some tips to get the classes and sections you want.

By: Talia Walters ‘20

It is the time of the greatest strife during the fall semester; classes are coming to an end, and we’re gearing up for a turbulent time for all of us. We’re squirming to get out of classes, escaping back to our snowy home landscapes or the sunny beaches of vacation paradise. After Thanksgiving break, we enter a season that makes us ready to drop out of college and move onto bigger and better things. I’m talking, of course, about Sagittarius season. But, in all reality, finals season is also upon us, and in the face of the stress that is my exams, I figured a fun little romp through the planetary alignments might be just the distraction we need before we all ace our exams. Check out your star sign below, and you’ll be matched with a USC school and given a December Finals Horoscope. No worries - they’re all good. And stay strong as we move through a stressful Sagittarius season!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

The new year is coming up soon, and that means it’s almost time to start thinking about a New Year’s resolution. Instead of making some cliche resolution about eating healthier, or something you won’t realistically accomplish like working out everyday, pick something that’s actually attainable. Chances are you don’t even remember what your resolution was last year. That’s why I want to challenge you to this: Come January, make a resolution that’s unique and actually write it down. Writing down your goals makes it much more likely that you’ll actually achieve them. So, let’s get into it! Here are 10 not cliche New Year’s resolutions you could take for your own!

By: Awo Jama ‘22

Earlier in the semester, I had the chance to explore both Little Tokyo and Downtown LA’s Arts District with the USC Photo Club on one of their off-campus excursions. After taking the Metro to Little Tokyo as a group, we were each given a map listing several notable sights in the area, and had free reign to explore what peaked our interest the most. Instead of taking stills of the vibrant murals and bustling shops I passed, I opted to film a short vlog which would document my trip:

By: Awo Jama ‘22

As a first year college student living away from home for the first time, learning how to manage my money has proven to be one of the most difficult adjustments I’ve had to undergo. In order to have more funds available to me for Ubering, getting coffee, doing my laundry (yes, USC makes you pay for your laundry), stocking up on snacks, replenishing my toiletries, and going out with friends, I’ve had to greatly reduce the amount of money I spend on clothes. As a fashion enthusiast, this trade-off hasn’t been easy, and has led to a few impulsive H&M orders. However, after exploring some local second hand clothing stores and gradually incorporating the clothes I’ve found into my wardrobe, I’ve realized that you don’t have to compromise style for affordability when shopping for clothes. Below I’ve listed the best second hand shops I’ve been to near campus, so if you’re on a budget but needing to revamp your wardrobe, keep reading!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

Okay, I’m going to be real. When I tell people that I love to read, I often hear in response, “Oh, I do too. I just don’t have any time to read.” Which I think is a terrible excuse. (Sorry if that was the excuse you were going to use too.) But I just find a statement like that patently false. Because if you really love something, and you truly enjoy it, you would make time for it. So, just be honest: You don’t like reading all that much, so, in your free time, you’re watching Netflix. You say: No, no, no! You’ve got it all wrong! You say: I love to read. Really. I do. But after studying all day, Netflix is just the easiest way to relax. If I didn’t have to do so much reading for class, I would read for pleasure too, honest. Alright, sure. I believe you. But, I propose a challenge for you. I want to challenge you to make time to do something you love this week.

By: Cameryn Baker ’22

If you’re a big football person and an avid tailgater, you’re probably feeling sort of at a loss about what to do this weekend. Since September 1st, you’ve always had the football team to count on for your Saturday plans. Even if the game was away, you could still always make an event out of it—you could go watch the game at a restaurant with some friends, or, if you were really dedicated, make a road trip out of it and go see the game in person. But we’ve fallen to the Irish, and season is over. Not another Game Day until next Fall. If you’re a football person, that hurts. But don’t be too bummed, to the point where you sit at home and do nothing all weekend. Think of this not as an end to something, but as an opportunity to go try new things. Here are some fun ways you can fill your weekends now that football season has ended.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

With their Bellagio-esque dancing fountain, four pools, gaming room, free shuttle, and other amenities, the Lorenzo is a popular choice for students at USC. Part of the Renaissance collection, the Lorenzo is privately owned by GH Palmer Associates and marketed as luxury student housing. While GH Palmer Associates is creating much needed housing in downtown LA, the Italian façade luxury apartments don’t serve the greater community. The increasing demand for exclusive student housing has decreased the economic incentive for developers to create additional much needed affordable housing units in South LA.

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

When you go abroad, you’ll start to hear all the usual jokes about the “Abroad 15.” And to be honest, you might put on a pound or two. I mean, let’s face it, there’s a whole world of new foods to try. But that doesn’t mean you should completely let yourself go. Here are some tips to stay healthy, physically and mentally, while abroad.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Courtesy of Late Night SC and ResEd, I was finally able to attend LA’s Haunted Hayride at Griffith Park. Here’s an honest review of the Hayride and Purgatory (the theme park).

By: Talia Walters ‘20

Every year, USC, through a long list of student associations on campus including the Queer and Ally Student Assembly (Facebook, Instagram), puts on its own drag show with local (read: student) performers. And thus, in my determination to become more acquainted with USC’s queer communities, I decided to attend the show.