Annual Trojan Family Weekend to return to campus


Photo courtesy of USC News

The Trojan Family is one that spans beyond the perimeter of USC’s beloved campus. No matter where you are, if you spot someone sporting USC gear, you are almost contractually obligated to throw up a “Fight On!” sign.

This weekend, current students invite their relatives to join in on what it means to belong to this network of passionate, skilled and loyal individuals. Beginning Thursday, Trojan Family Weekend will be packed with academic and extracurricular events for students’ families to experience. The official parent welcome will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday at Alumni Park.

Thursday’s schedule focuses on the holistic campus experience highlighting safety, inclusion and student resources offered by the University.  The Admission Center will reacquaint visitors  with all the landmarks and construction projects through campus tours. Following the tour, families are encouraged to stop by the Trojan Farmers Market to grab a sweet afternoon treat. Thursday’s schedule also includes a University Convergence Panel Discussion with Provost Michael Quick, tours of the new USC Village and a welcome reception in Alumni Park. The evening will close with a performance by the B-52’s, hosted by Visions & Voices.

The weekend’s events will continue on Friday with individual receptions for each school. They are specifically geared toward offering parents a mid-semester evaluation of what the current academic year has been like for students both academically and personally. President C. L. Max Nikias will then give an address to all visiting family members from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in Bovard Auditorium.

The afternoon will continue with tours of Doheny Memorial Library and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, led by USC’s faculty and students. The night will end with a showcase performance featuring second-year music students at Ground Zero Performance Café.

The display of Trojan pride will culminate at Saturday’s football game, as the Trojans prepare to battle the Utah Utes. The Trojan Family Weekend Tailgate will begin at Alumni Park at 1:30 p.m. Families are greeted with an all-you-can-eat buffet, games, music and other pre-game festivities. The Trojan Marching Band and spirit leaders, will lead the way to the Coliseum, where the game will kick off at 5 p.m.

Trojan Family Weekend will close with Sunday events at the United University Church and the USC Caruso Catholic Center. A number of masses and blessings will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Families are also invited to cheer on the  women’s volleyball team in its afternoon match against Pac-12 rival Stanford  at the Galen Center.