From the editors

December is the season of giving. From secret exchanges to thoughtful reveals, last-minute shopping and even handmade gifts, the holidays bring joy to many. Here at USC, enjoying this season primarily means making it through a series of hoops: finals. 

All jokes aside, the end of the semester can be an exciting yet admittedly stressful time. With a laundry list of demands already on all of our plates, the culmination of a half-year’s work, paired with the promise of a much-needed break, can encourage us when life feels stressful.

As co-editors, this semester has been one of many firsts. Whether it be the first time battling the beast of Adobe InDesign, the first time editing the articles of writers — whom we admire — or even the first late night working in the newsroom, we made sure each monthly issue of the Daily Trojan Magazine is one we can be proud of. Like finals and the holiday season, these firsts have been thrilling, a little stressful, yet ultimately insightful and rewarding. 

This month’s magazine is the culmination of a defining semester for us co-editors and our staff members alike. The articles for this month show the continued dedication of our staff writers who have committed to producing high-quality work with innovative and thoughtful perspectives each month. 

In this month’s magazine, Molly Phan analyzes the influx of mobile food businesses surrounding USC; MJ Manning unpacks the allure of Los Angeles culture.

Plus, Isabella Bournazian characterizes a new wave of watch parties; Dor Peretz documents a week away from her phone; Bennett Christofferson provides another thrilling challenge in his crossword; Pırıl Zadil offers a creative and comedic cartoon; and Anna Jordan, Dieva Mulet and Matthew Diederich offer snapshots of hometowns and travel.

Spearheading the December magazine with our cover story, Melissa Grimaldo reports on the loss of USC’s performance café, Ground Zero, and how students find community in its absence. 

We are once again deeply grateful for the artists and photographers who have contributed to the December magazine, along with all others this semester, led by Art & Design Director Lucy Chen and Photo editors Ethan Thai and Tai Sandhu.

We are also lucky enough to have help from our assistant editors, Abby Weiland and Miranda Huang. Lastly, we would like to thank our Fall 2025 editor-in-chief, Nathan Elias, for his unwavering support, dedication and passion for this magazine and the Daily Trojan at large. 

As the semester comes to a close, we cannot help but be filled with gratitude — for every writer, artist, photographer and crossword maker who has helped us grow this semester through the shared passion for student work and creativity. In a world where artificial intelligence and other technology aim to outshine journalism, this magazine serves as a hope, inspiration and a platform for expression for many students, ourselves included.