USC Residential Education holds first college cup

As the University continues to change, USC has taken an active role in forging new concepts and traditions for students. On Friday, the University’s incoming fall class attended the first annual Residential College Cup Ceremony and Rally at Hahn Plaza and the Galen Center.

Freshmen gathered at Hahn Plaza for a traditional Trojan welcome that included a performance by the USC marching band, the Spirit of Troy. Following the hour-long welcome, flag-bearers for each residential college led students from the Plaza to the Galen Center.

The ceremony opened with a message from Vice President for Student Affairs Ainsley Carry, who encouraged students to take advantage of the Residential College Cup by participating in various campus activities throughout the year with their peers.

Afterwards, students engaged in various games and spirit competitions to earn points for their respective residential colleges. New North ended the night with a victory, as announced at the event, while West Residential College won the most points for spirit.

After launching the residential college model in 2012, USC Residential Education has taken major steps toward improving the social and cultural atmosphere of on-campus housing communities. To prepare for the opening of five additional colleges at USC Village, the department has worked to reintroduce the model among the six current residential colleges.

The Cup competition was conceived as a year-long endeavor for victory among students at New North, Birnkrant, South, West, Parkside Arts & Humanities and Parkside International Residential Colleges.

For some students, the establishment of the Cup represents strong efforts by the University to create a sense of community and belonging for new students in residential life.

“[The Residential College Cup] gives students something to be a part of right from the start. When preparing for college, one of my biggest worries was figuring out ways to get involved with my fellow students,” said Cameron Greely, a freshman majoring in film and television production. “With the cup, I already have a team and a goal to shoot for.”

Others were not as receptive to the idea of the competition and were disappointed by the logistical planning of the ceremony. Jenna Lin, a freshman studying arts, technology and the business of innovation, expressed her dissatisfaction with the event.

“The length of the event was slightly longer than I had anticipated,” Lin said. “It was very overwhelming for freshmen who had just recently moved in. There weren’t many breaks in between events, and despite the fact that there were a lot of different competitions, only a number of students were able to participate while the majority simply sat on the bleachers and observed.”

The Cup competition included a variety of events hosted throughout the year. Intramural leagues for residential colleges have been established for the academic year in a partnership with USC Recreational Sports, according to ResEd. In addition, the competition will also feature a variety of events such as quiz bowls, community service events and exclusive programming. Points will be kept and maintained by USC Residential Education, and the winner of the Residential College Cup will be announced by the end of the academic year.