Eli’s DT 411: Week of 9/1


USC News
Leavey Library Gets A Facelift: The second floor of Leavey Library just went through some much-needed renovations. The 24-hour student study spot received new carpeting, paint and furniture. The library even got some new computers and expanded the study rooms.
The 411: Welcome to the 21st century, Leavey — so glad you decided to join us!

Campus Leaders
USG Gets its First Session On!: The Undergraduate Student Government convened on Tuesday for its first session of the year. The topic of the day? College affordability. USG President Rini Sampath said she is focusing on “reaching out to different cultural assemblies to see how their constituents are affected by college affordability.” Sampath also talked about tackling the issue of mental health on campus.
The 411: Sampath is on the march to find ways to make college a healthier, more affordable environment!

College Life
Campus Food Guide: Let’s take a look at your on-campus dining:
Dining Halls: Oh, you lucky freshmen and your unlimited meal swipes. You don’t know how good you have it. EVK, Cafe 84 and Parkside may not be the most glamorous options, but at least you can go there for breakfast and a late night snack!

Campus Center: The aptly named Campus Center has what everyone is looking for, whether it’s a salad or a pizza … for a price. Here you can use your dining or discretionary dollars. California Pizza Kitchen? Check. Panda Express? Check. Seeds? Check. Lemonade? Check. Any questions?
TroGro, LiteraTea, Nekter and more: Here’s where it gets interesting. There’s all kinds of lesser-known dining options for the more adventurous students. Check out the cafe in the new Annenberg building or get your drink on at Nekter near the School of Architecture.
The 411: What’s the best? That’s up to you. If you’re into stray cats, by all means go hang out with EVKitty.

Student Voices
Issue: Should the USC Campus ban smoking on campus?
Point: “Being surrounded by smoking, even just through the sight of strangers lighting up on campus, creates a mentality that the act is not just condoned, but also celebrated. If the University supports the education and awareness of cigarette use and seeks further, more decisive action, then there is potential to create meaningful progress on our campus.” – Danni Wang, Junior, Lifestyle Editor
Counterpoint: “Considering that the University often fails to enforce its current smoking policy on the University Park Campus — which prohibits smoking in enclosed buildings; within 10 feet of outdoor dining areas; in facilities, vehicles and “smoke-free” designated areas; and in locations during indoor events — it is fair to wonder whether a more comprehensive smoke-free policy will carry the weight it should.” – Sonali Seth, sophomore, Editorial Director
The 411: Does USC need to change its policies about smoking on campus? Or is it just pointless?

Sports
Soccer Stars: Last Friday, the Women of Troy beat UC Riverside 2-0, elevating their record to 2-1. The win was important because other SoCal schools like UCLA and Pepperdine are ranked in the Top 25. However, the No. 15 Trojans are looking to move up.
The 411: The USC women’s soccer team is on the path to success.

Football Focus: After Steve Sarkisian’s inappropriate behavior made national news, the Trojans are more focused as they head toward their first football game with Arkansas State. “I think this brought us closer together,” said quarterback Cody Kessler about Sark’s actions last week. Coach Sark has even started a “Finish Challenge” to get players to push their energy up at the end of drills.
The 411: Sark may have made some mistakes, but the football team is looking good heading into the season. #NoMoreLastMinuteLosses
Volleyball Vantage Point: Sophomore volleyball player Brittany Abercrombie has had one heck of a summer. She toured with the U.S. Collegiate Volleyball Team in China and is on track to become the next star player of the USC team. Fans can check out her mad skills on Sept. 10 at the Galen Center.
The 411: We have the coolest collegiate athletes in the world. Period.

Pop Culture
VMAs 2015: The MTV Video Music Awards aired Sunday, hosted by pop singer and self-proclaimed twerking expert Miley Cyrus.
The Semi-Good: Justin Bieber got a new haircut and sang his new single “What Do You Mean?” Then, the Biebs broke down into tears. Was it gratitude from fans after being in the spotlight for his bad behavior? Or was he just lamenting over his split ends? We’ll let you be the judge.
The Kinda-Bad: You can call it a poor man’s Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction, but Miley exposed one of her boobs on live television. The scantily clad host had good comedic timing throughout the night, even when her potty mouth kept those censors busier than usual. Oh, and she went all Beyonce on us and released a new album after the show. Meanwhile, Kanye accepted the Video Vanguard Award and tried but failed to explain his complex feelings.
The Downright Ugly: Nicki Minaj won the Hip-Hop Video Award, but her speech derailed soon after she took the stage. Earlier this year, Minaj discovered she wasn’t nominated for Video of the Year and went on a Twitter rampage. Taylor Swift had beef with her comments before, but they made up during Nicki’s VMA performance. However, Miley had some not-so-positive words on Nicki’s controversy in a recent interview. Long story short, there’s some other bad blood brewing.
The 411: Taylor Swift won the evening, Kanye’s pushing for the White House, Miley loves exposing her body, the Biebs couldn’t hold it together and Nicki Minaj made everyone uncomfortable.