Spring Break Woes
By: Mark Love ‘16
With the first week of school since spring break coming to a close, I couldn’t help but ponder upon the adventures my friends and classmates have embarked on last week. One of my friends backpacked through Scandinavia while a classmate flew to Taiwan to celebrate the week off from school. While listening to their stories, I could only shrug my shoulders and smile hoping that no one asks about my spring break itinerary. Unfortunately, I had to show up to my internship during the week, so my journey towards everlasting merriment definitely hit a roadblock. But instead of mourning my stationary predicament, I decided to take advantage of the wonders that lie within the City of Angels.
Finnish What We Started
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
While many think of Madness and painstakingly-crafted brackets (to no avail, in my case) when they think of March, here at USC, this month has been chock full of EdMonth and an impressive array of guest speakers. Last night, I had the pleasure of learning about the World’s Education Superpower…
Finding Your Passion with Alexis Jones: Author, Activist and Founder of I Am That Girl
By: Lauren Brose ‘15
Alexis Jones is wearing fitted black jeans with tears at the knees, a loose black tank top and a pair of long necklaces. Her long brown hair bounces effortlessly as she walks over to a number of familiar faces sitting in the audience. Sharing the captivating story of how she found her passion, wrote a book, and founded I Am That Girl, Jones’ inspiration was first sparked at her alma mater, USC. Before she dove into the meat of her story, she first asked the audience a question:
#HumbleBrag
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.
Can You Go The Distance? Not Everyone Can
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.
Help Your Studying -- With Puppies!
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.
JON LOVETT DOES NOT FAIL: The Art of Bull$#!t
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
So this guy walks into a classroom a couple minutes late and tries to find a seat near the front. He then gets up to talk in front of the room holding over 200 people. I would probably already be asleep if this was a normal classroom. But this is not a usual classroom. Usually, I wouldn’t expect this guy to be cussing, relating to the students, and encouraging these students to become more politically active and not simply take what the media gives them so willing. But on Monday, December 1st, at 8:00pm, a former speech writer for the President of the United States and a current comedy writer for NBC came to speak to talk about the complete and utter bull$#!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.
Campus Eats: The Many Places Students Can Use Dining Dollars At
By: Lauren Brose ‘15
At the end of every semester, my lucky friends who are privileged with Trojan Plan tend to have over $1,000 dollars leftover in dining dollars. This is typically around finals week when I am practically living on campus and all sense of self-sufficiency has flown out the window. Fortunately, my friends are generous enough to order me meals on campus using their Dining Dollars (all hail free Lemonade!!). If you currently have dining dollars and aren’t clear on where to spend your funds, I’ve outlined where and what on campus you can indulge in during your breaks. Explore outside the confines of Campus Center. There’s a plethora of cafés and quick stop offs situated around campus and if you play it smart, you can find yourself sipping on boba and munching on a pitaya bowl during your gap between lectures. #fancy
In a World Where If There Isn't an Instagram, It Didn't Happen...
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
Much like most other college students, I constantly use social media. To stay relevant, you need to tweet 5-6 times a day. If you Instagram more than two photos a day, all of your followers will be annoyed with you and unfollow you. Do not send anyone game requests on Facebook because no one actually wants to help you play Farmville. I feel the need to post about my life on all of my social medias because that’s how people know I did them. If I don’t have a photo to show someone, did I really go to Venice or did I just watch The West Wing on Netflix all day? The line continues to blur on whether social media is for those who want to show off their lives or is it actually to stay in touch with old high school friends and family members? Social Media- positive or nah?
A Positive Future, as Seen by Former President Bill Clinton
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
A lot of people are pessimistic about the United States of America’s future. The economy hasn’t been doing amazingly well. The two main political parties are constantly at odds and are too stubborn to compromise. Many people are worried. Fortunately for us, on Friday November 7th at Bovard Auditorium, Former President Bill Clinton reminded us all that change can be our friend and must happen to ensure that the U.S. continues to be an amazing country.
Diane Winston Speaks on What Matters in Journalism
By: Isaac Moody MA ‘15
Diane Winston, former journalist and scholar spoke at Ground Zero today about issues that matter most to her, both as a person and journalist.
THE HIGHEST OF HIGH PRIORITIES: Thanksgiving Break Netflix Watch List
By: Lauren Brose ‘15
Thanksgiving break is just weeks away. Many return home to be reunited with family but most importantly we have a ton (and I mean TON) of Netflix to catch up on. It seems like the norm these days is the watch Netflix when you’re not in the mood for human interaction. Ironically, when I go home to see my family we utilize Netflix as a means for getting everyone in the same room to enjoy quality home entertainment. Whatever you use Netflix for, consider some suggestions that I have received from family, friends and my personal (and eclectic I hope) taste.
Stop, Collaborate, and Listen: Response to Sexual Assault
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
There has been a really big push within the past year for sexual assault awareness and prevention. Trust me when I say, I feel much safer now that some of the guys around campus are educated on what rape and sexual assault are. Unfortunately, people are still gonna rape others and still sexually assault others, either out of ignorance or because they are horrible people. This blog post is for that horrible situation or if one of your friends comes home from the night claiming to have been sexually assaulted or raped. This is the guide to helping the person who has been assaulted and getting them to help if they need some.
Be Like Pharrell Williams: Be Happy
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days. Everyone knows what I’m talking about. Everybody gets that way.
WHAT'S GOING ON? Dance Marathon!
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
One of the best decisions I made my freshman year was joining a club whose message I agree with wholeheartedly. For me, Dance Marathon was the best decision for me because I love working with children and dancing around for extended periods of time.
Where's the Free Food At?
By: Hannah Kim ‘15
One of the hardest parts about living on your own (and slowly and painfully becoming an adult) is learning how to feed yourself. Gone are the days when you could open a stocked fridge to leisurely select your meal. In college, it is the unfortunate reality that sometimes you open up your fridge to be greeted by a lone bottle of Sriarcha. And a potato. If you’re lucky.
Getting Off Campus: Automobile Edition
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
This second part of the “Getting Off Campus” series is for those who are lucky enough to have a car, money for insurance and gas, and enough time to travel around. Not only can you go shopping somewhere other than the pop-up places on Trousdale, you are also pretty popular with your friends if they ever need a ride to the airport.
Getting Off Campus - No Car Edition
By: Kelly Kinas ‘17
USC is amazing but at some points during the year, I need to get away. Living on campus can sometimes be overwhelming. Luckily, we live in one of the most diverse cities in the world and there are many things to do within a few miles of campus. So get out and explore!
About Matt
By: Matt Freihofner ‘15
Born and bred a New Yorker, I never thought I would live anywhere but the Empire State. After graduating high school I went to community college near NYC for a year and then transferred to SUNY Albany in upstate New York.
Quick, easy ways to save money in college (without going insane or being called frugal)
By: Lauren Brose ‘15
Like the old cliché that “money cannot buy happiness,” I realize that there is much more to life than wealth. Money certainly isn’t the solution to all of my problems but that doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t a problem I face as a college student who’s entirely dependent on my parents. As much as I appreciate my parents’ generosity of financing my college education, it doesn’t feel right to be wasteful with my finances. Now’s the perfect time to take control of your finances, learn to save here and there and understand the full value of managing and spending money earned.