By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

We all know the struggle of trying to look good in college, especially when we’re low on funds and can’t afford Sephora brand products. I’m here to let you know that there are good makeup and skincare products that are effective, inclusive, and cheap! Here’s a go-to guide on affordable makeup when you’re balling on a budget.

By: Karla Leung ‘22

Accidents are a part of life, and in a pinch, it’s good to know where to find emergency contraceptives. Purchasing Plan B, a pregnancy test, or any other sexual health item can sometimes be embarrassing or nerve-wracking. Luckily, there are a variety of places around and off campus that provide discrete and convenient access.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

I am by no means an expert in the art department. Creativity is something that everyone has but few are experts at expressing. This semester, in particular, has given me plenty to reflect on. Taking black and white film photography and my first writer’s workshop, there are some surprising things I have learned about the creative expression and the artist. Here are just a few things that I would like to reflect on, coming up on mid-semester.

By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22

You’ve seen them all. There are so many “top ten” lists and similar compilations of bite-sized information you could practically make an encyclopedia. Yet because lists are meant to be skimmed, depth is usually sacrificed. We have so much information easily available that we don’t know what to do with it — so oftentimes we don’t do anything. But that’s not good! We have the potential to do so much good in the world, and I believe that in approaching information from the right angle we can do just this. So in the spirit of our favorite easy-to-read format, here is a list of ways to hack the famous Top Ten List and deal with information overload (including some other fun Top Ten finds)!

By: Ann Nguyen ‘22

“It’s Los Angeles. It won’t rain in Los Angeles!”

…And now it’s raining. So, aside from giving in and buying an umbrella, are you at a loss on what to do? Well, as the band TOTO tells us, “take some time to do the things you never had.”

By: Antonia Le ‘22

According to Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. As a woman of science and perpetual optimist, I’m usually the first to tell you that Murphy’s Law is absolute garbage. It’s not even a real scientific law! However, as an intern for USC’s Student Coalition for Asian Pacific Empowerment (SCAPE), I witnessed the effects of Murphy’s Law firsthand. On Thursday, February 28th, SCAPE put on its signature event, inspirASIAN. As part of my intern duties, I had to help the executive board make sure that everything went according to plan (spoiler alert! It did not.). Yet, as I think back on that exhausting Thursday night, what sticks out to me the most is that fact that despite all the bumps along the way, the SCAPE E-board ended up putting together something pretty great.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

I’m a Los Angeles native, so I’m not sure what other people think about when they think of Los Angeles, but amusement parks should at least come to mind. The LA area houses a lot of great theme parks, but it can be confusing to know which one is right for you if you are not familiar with them. That is where I, an amusement park junkie, come in. I am here to shed light on the logistics of each park and to help you decide which one is right for you!

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

Let me paint a familiar picture. It’s midterm season and you’re spending all your available hours and sanity on studying. You’re stressed beyond belief, but in a week or two the worst will be over. That is, until you get hit with the common cold. Or something in your personal life goes horribly wrong. Or you realize you spread yourself way too thin. Your first thought is “Are you kidding me?” and it’s closely followed by “That’s just my luck.” But I’m here to tell you that it’s not the end of the world. Even if you feel like death now, and everything feels like it’s coming crashing down, here are a couple things you can do to give yourself a break and push through this trying time:

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Just 12 miles north and 1,273ft up (in elevation) from USC is the Griffith Observatory. The museum, though small, hosts an extensive display of astronomy related exhibits. Free for all and an easy two Metro rides away, it’s a place every student should frequent at least once in their four years at USC.

By: Ann Nguyen ‘22

Whether you’re having an Oscars Watch Party and want to impress your friends in SCA or you just want to be informed, here are my recommended picks and everything you need to know in making your own 2019 Oscars predictions! I have been keeping up with the current Oscars race for almost an entire year — basically since last year’s Oscars. Having always been a huge cinephile, I know everything about how the process works, what constitutes an Oscar-worthy display, and what indicators are most reliable in predicting the Academy Awards. So without further ado, let’s get this show started.

By: Antonia Le ‘22

The general housing lottery has come and gone, and cancellation/reassignment time is nearly upon us. For many Trojans who were lucky enough to get into the housing of their dreams, it’s a time to step away and think about what’s really important: buying new decorations for next year’s digs. However, some Trojans are faced with much different tasks: trying to get reassigned to any room other than a loft or figuring out how to downsize their lives so that everything fits into a dorm room the size of a shoebox.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

You can stop avoiding Trousdale now. Election season is over! You no longer have to rack your brain thinking about polite ways to decline informational handouts or feverishly avoid eye contact. No more poster boards and no more free food (kinda bummed I never got my In-N-Out) because the results are (unofficially) in!