Athletic programs don’t deserve blame


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We begin this academic year boasting a football team poised to sweep the national championship and bring in millions of dollars for USC. But even on our spirited college campus, many students challenge the merit of athletic programs, adding to a growing debate over the place of athletics in an academic atmosphere.   Across the […]

The marijuana debate is just getting annoying


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April was a big month for drugs. From Rihanna rolling a blunt on top of some guy’s head at Coachella to Santa Cruz’s renowned 4/20 celebration, people of all ages, cultures and beliefs got together to enjoy themselves. So why is marijuana legalization taking so long? April also saw leaders meet for the Summit of […]

Rodney King riots still resonate with city


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Almost 20 years ago, when most of us were in our early infancies, Los Angeles was burning. The acquittal of the four Los Angeles Police Department officers involved in the beating of Rodney King sparked one of the most incendiary events in L.A. history. Violence riddled the landscape. It brought to the forefront many grievances […]

Achievement not an individual endeavor


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Commencement is almost here. It’s a time to see family, take pictures and get nostalgic with your classmates. Of course, it’s also a time to be self-centered. Commencement ultimately exists to celebrate individual achievement. And, hey, if you’re managing to actually graduate — whether it’s in three years or six — you deserve to pat […]

Bike-share plan won’t convert Angelenos


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On Sunday, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will reveal the details of a $16-million L.A. bike-share program. You don’t need to look far from USC to see compelling reasons for such a program. To the east lies the 110 Freeway — and all the traffic congestion it brings. Bicycles offer a cleaner, healthier alternative. Unfortunately, that alternative […]

Postseason football injuries need attention


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The story of a football game doesn’t end with a mark in the win/lose column. The story ends 30 years later, when a victorious receiver’s life takes a hypothetical turn for the worse. After a successful football career and numerous concussions, this player develops early-onset Alzheimer’s and forgets his wife’s name — or he becomes […]

Not all classroom technology is equal


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The reformation of American education usually comes with technological changes. Educational institutions search for ways to use technology to effectively improve teaching and learning. Although the efforts are well-intentioned, how much technology is truly necessary? Some professors allow laptops as an option for note-taking — giving students the chance to use them for social networking […]