’SC issues demand a discussion
When Grandma Linton introduced me to her friends last weekend and told them I attended USC, I was mortified by their response: “Isn’t that the school where people had sex on the building?”
It seems recent high-profile scandals at USC have tainted what it means to be a Trojan — but even more concerning is that some students don’t seem to care.
Julia Vann | Daily Trojan
As a freshman spring admit, I spent all last fall imagining life at USC, and it was an idealized image I desperately wanted a taste of.
Now that I’m finally here, I’m disappointed in what I’ve seen.
Recent incidents have gone against the values of the Trojan family, a notion that carries heavy weight when students choose USC over other universities.
Sex in public? Moreover, on a roof that looks like you’d fall right through it if you weren’t skilled in scaling buildings? Not to mention the disgusting email that was blatantly misogynistic, racist and just plain crude.
Monday, as I was marching with other students around Tommy Trojan in protest of the university’s inadequate response to the viral email, I noticed countless students, both men and women, walking past us, laughing and pointing.
I found myself wondering if others actually find this all funny.
Later that day, for example, when I walked into class and excused myself for coming in late because of the protest, another student said, “This whole thing is being blown out of proportion. It’s just a joke. Chill out.”
I refuse to “chill out,” and I am disheartened any students would think this is the appropriate response.
Those speaking out against the email aren’t targeting Kappa Sigma, nor are they trying to shine a negative light on Greek life.
Instead, they are protesting a culture in which phrases such as “women are targets” are deemed funny and in which non-consent and rape are supposedly two different things.
Phrases like “tooting it and booting it” and that mindset create a cyclical monster of vacuity. Where did the meaning go? The respect?
This might seem like beating a dead horse, and chances are most students would prefer this issue died down so they can move on with their lives in blissful ignorance.
But before that can happen, we must examine our own ideologies and question if this culture of ours is acceptable, and if not, how we can change it.
I love USC. But the current negative atmosphere seems to permeate everything I do these days, and that’s definitely not what I expected when I got my acceptance letter.
If anything, we can consider this situation an opportunity for the student body to collaborate with the university to address the issues that have affecting our campus.
The student body needs to stop being so divided over this issue.
On one hand, you have upset feminists such as myself. On the other hand, you have the apathetic students who don’t really see the importance of the issue.
We will make no progress if I turn my nose up at those who don’t agree with me, just as nothing will be accomplished if those who are apathetic scoff at students, such as myself, who are speaking out.
We’re all being presented with a unique chance to revive the Trojan Family we hear of so often. Right now, I certainly don’t feel as if this is a family.
I’m in to fix this. Are you?
Mellissa Linton is a freshman majoring in English literature
Listen, SC doesn’t do “character-checks” prior to conferring admissions. Human beings are wildcards; you don’t know what you’re gonna get. People are the same everywhere you go. I had TAs who attended Ivies as undergrads and cussed like sailors. One my TAs, who attended Princeton, was hot. She dressed so…owwhhhhh!!! I don’t wanna talk about it. I’m going to the bathroom…
I am very upset with the staff faculty, president Nikias and security department where were you when this whole sex scandal
was happening and the stupid moron that video taped the sex in the roof why did you have to tape that .
I work 3 jobs to pay for USC TUITION for my daughter I sacrifice for her to attend this school which I thought it was
a good choice of school I CONGRATULATE Miss Linton for writting this article for taking the time and the effort to tell the school the wrong doing of some students .. the morning i got the LA TIMES and I read about the scandal I was so embarrased with my neighbors I AM NOT PROUD TO BE A TROJAN PARENT PRESIDENT NIKIAS you have to do something about this problem…….. hire more security…. install cameras on building’s roof.. do something….. support this article writter… she seems to have what it takes to speak out…..
As a USC alumna, I agree. Any time there is a scandal, that degree for which I worked so hard is devalued. I want to show my resume and wear my cardinal and gold sweatshirt with pride. I shouldn’t need to defend my reputation or my work ethic, or have my accomplishments diminished.
USC is no longer the University of Spoiled Children. President Sample worked very hard for that. President Nikias is continuing along that path. USC is not an Ivy, but it is one of the best schools on the west coast. Current and future Trojans: don’t destroy the progress of those who came before you; don’t ruin it for yourselves; and don’t ruin it for those who will come after you.
“I found myself wondering if others actually find this all funny.”
Yup. I do. I laughed at you, pointed at you, made loud comments about you, and belligerently walked through your group. And in thirty years, when I walk by protestors who have nothing better to do than waste their time and obstruct my path, I’ll still be doing the same thing.
I hate to say it, but as USC students we don’t usually get the respect that we think we deserve. It seems as if the university standards are more about bringing in revenue (and student athletes that will assist in this endeavor) and less about cultivating the non-athletic students, who I’m sorry to say, will more likely impact the world (just based on numbers. This isn’t to say that student athletes go on to be unsuccessful, because that would be an untruth. But what I am saying is that the typical USC is not an athlete). I mean, what do you see on on television when USC is mentioned? Crime, large amounts of money donated, athletes, sport controversies and other things that sully the USC family reputation. Nikias’ induction and famous figures coming to campus is really the only truly good things that are depicted. But USC is not truly a school of “spoiled children;” I believe that the reason we are depicted this way is not just because of the supposed “wealth” of our student body, but our perceived attitudes as well.
To be honest, I’m not surprised that the Greek System would do something like this. In full disclosure, I would be shocked if the Frats and Sororities were all straight A students that never got in trouble and helped old ladies across the street. Across the country, Greek systems are known for rowdy partying and general stupidity. If the Greek system here bothers you too much, shut it down. But the real issue is how we want to be perceived to the rest of the world. Stop throwing a huge party whenever anyone gives you any large sum of money, it makes us look shallow and materialistic. Stop giving our athletes so much publicity. And for God’s sake stop bragging about how awesome USC is, it annoys all of the serious Universities–besides, we really don’t need to.
If we really are as awesome as we think we are (and as all of our faculty, diverse and hard-working students and staff is. And our history proves we are) then we don’t need to brag, out actions will draw praise from onlookers. Why spend the time telling others how great you are when you peers can do it for you?
To be surprised…I’m surprised that everyone is surprised that the University is having issues…our priorities are all wrong…
good article though…
Bravo. One of the aims of a university education should be to teach students that “chill out” is an inappropriate response to incidents like this one.
First of all, sex on the roof is nothing new to modern college life. Worse incidents have happened at Ivy League campuses and USC is no Ivy League! We’re not a Stanford either. USC has party time in its DNA and sometimes that spills over onto the public scene. Every campus has their emotionally unintelligent and immature wingnuts and that’s just a fact of life.