USC after-hours medical care needs urgent reform

As USC shifts toward a residential community, it must adapt to meet the health needs of its students after business hours.

The current system is in dire need of reform. Twice now this year, my roommate and I have faced health issues USC failed to address because of nonexistent after-hours assistance.

The first time, we called the “24/7” health care after-hours number only to be routed to a clinic in Maine. We chose the local hospital instead.

The second time, we discovered that the “Medical Services Urgent Care” USC webpage was blank. With few other options, we went to the brand-new $15 million dollar health center in person only to be told weekend hours were 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We were an hour late and no further assistance or options were offered.

Despite the $253 Student Health Center Service fee every semester, not to mention the Student Health Insurance fee, the general message to students seems to be that if you get injured on the weekend, make sure it is during the prescribed four-hour window. Otherwise, good luck.

With no urgent care clinic nearby, after-hours treatment options at present appear limited to either personal first aid or the hospital. As a world-class university, USC can do better.

Student health should be a 24/7 priority, and USC’s approach to after-hours care needs attention. Especially with the vast majority of students living within biking distance of campus, we urge the university to re-examine its current policy on after-hours care. USC has demonstrated an ability to respond to safety concerns in the past. We hope this trend continues.

Luke Bouma

Sophomore, math and physics

Matthew Prusak

Sophomore, international relations and philosophy, politics, and law

In response to failed flight

The Daily Trojan recently ran a front page photograph of the USC Quidditch team in action vs. UCLA.  Nothing against Harry Potter — but a much bigger and more relevant story would be why the University of Southern California can’t field an NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Team annually.  I am all for Title IX and equality in sports and am happy to see new opportunities being developed for handicapped athletes.  However, every other major college in California and the nation seem to be able to field a competitive men’s soccer team except USC — and they all have to abide by the same rules.

Tony Selco

Program Specialist, USC Libraries