Inside USC’s late-night study culture
Leavey Library and Tutor Campus Center help students find structure and solidarity far after daylight hours.
By ROHAN SHAH & SHIVANI ASHYANTH
Inside USC’s late-night study culture
At 2 a.m. on a Friday night, Leavey Library was still awake. Students moved between green chairs, study rooms and printers in exhaustion — varying degrees of exhaustion but fatigued all the same. The harsh lights failed to keep students away from the library, proven by the packed rooms and anxious energy wafting all the way to the patio outside. With the crippling dread of deadlines, examinations or even just a noisy dorm room, students continue to show up, and Leavey keeps the lights on for them.
Leavey’s 24-hour or extended-hour study spaces have become vital for students who do not always fit a nine-to-five schedule. Whether they’re balancing classes with demanding work or club responsibilities, having access to these spaces into the night can be helpful in managing workloads.
Alice Shi, a junior majoring in business administration, ends up at Leavey more often than not, with frequency rising around midterms and finals.
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“Considering the amount of work we have right now, I’d say it’s become a part of my schedule,” Shi said. “If I have work to do over the weekend, [I go] from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.”
Leavey Library’s late working hours draws many students in during high-stakes weeks, often creating a solitary, focused environment. (Luis Ochea / Daily Trojan)
During the week, Shi squeezes in study time between classes: a group project, a 45-minute study session. The central location of Leavey on the University campus may be a reason to frequent its space, but what brings Shi back is the order the space inspires.
“Everybody’s really locked in,” she said. “The study environment is more serious.”
While some students may find the fluorescent lighting and hushed whispers to be boring, the library can be a refuge for those looking for a calm place to finish their assignments as the sky darkens.
“I enjoy the environment,” said Gabriela Rey, a junior majoring in writing for screen and television. “The quiet environment, it helps me think.”
Rey finds herself in Leavey when deadlines are looming. She typically prefers outdoor spots on campus, like a hidden corner in the School of Cinematic Arts’ balcony. When alternative study spaces close, however, Rey resorts to Leavey.
McCarthy Quad neighbors Leavey Library which invites students to work in its multi-level structure at all hours of the day. (Daily Trojan File Photo)
“At night it’s quieter, more focused,” Rey said. “I think the only students pulling all-nighters are people with insane deadlines, and so they really need to focus.”
Leavey might not be a place for connection, but Rey acknowledged the silent solidarity it fosters. The stressed-out typing on laptops while trying to beat the 11:59 p.m. mark, intertwined with sleep deprivation. It creates a tightly wound, high-functioning energy that keeps everyone up and running, Shi said.
“It’s disconnected. I don’t really feel any kind of sense of community,” Rey said. “Especially if I’m alone. But it helps knowing I’m not the only one up working.”
While Leavey Library often takes center stage in conversations about USC’s late-night study culture, it is not the only option students rely on. For those who do not want to pull an all-nighter but still need a quiet place to concentrate, the Tutor Campus Center offers an alternative.
The Trojan Generations Lounge and Graduate Student Lounge close at 11 p.m., and the meeting rooms are available until midnight. TCC stays open late enough to catch students after their classes and meetings, and it avoids the high-pressure atmosphere that Leavey brings during peak weeks.
Tutor Campus Center offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for students to study some rooms being open as late as 12 a.m. (Luis Ochea / Daily Trojan)
For Siri Pedapenki, a sophomore majoring in applied and computational mathematics, TCC has become one of her go-to study spaces in the evenings.
“Honestly, I get really distracted during the day,” Pedapenki said. “I have classes, club meetings, and there’s people everywhere. But at night, it’s quieter, so I can actually focus on studying.”
Unlike some students who only turn to campus study spaces during finals, Pedapenki uses TCC consistently throughout the semester.
“[I come to TCC] pretty regularly throughout the semester, maybe twice or [three times] a week,” she said. “Obviously, I use it more during midterms and finals, but even in a normal week, I’ll come if I have assignments or if I know I need to lock in.”
That balance between the everyday grind and the high-stakes weeks makes TCC valuable for students looking to stay productive without pulling marathon hours. The environment plays a big role, too. While Leavey can feel crowded and competitive, TCC offers more breathing room, Pedapenki said.
“Usually Leavey gets really busy during finals and midterms,” Pedapenki said. “But at TCC, there’s [almost] nobody.”
With both open and indoor seating areas, varied dining options and its close proximity to classrooms, TCC can be a good place for students looking to drop in for a few focused hours before heading back to their homes. Rather than chasing the intensity of Leavey, Pedapenki finds that TCC gives her a space to focus, recharge and maintain a manageable schedule.
Of course, TCC and Leavey are not the only alternatives. Some students go to Starbucks at USC Village, while others stick to residence hall study rooms when they do not feel like going out. Both Leavey and TCC represent two sides of USC’s late-night study culture: one swarming with activity at all hours and one offering a quieter, more structured option that wraps up at midnight.
“USC does have a culture of working very hard,” Pedapenki said. “We definitely are hard workers, so I would say [Leavey reflects] a combination of just normal college culture and [the] USC grind.”
