Over the past weekend, visiting families were given a glimpse into what life as a USC student entails. Trojan Family Weekend provided families ample opportunities to experience campus life, with more than 200 events to choose from.

The festivities kicked off Thursday morning with a spirited performance from the Trojan Marching Band. For the next four days, students and families were offered a selection of events including lectures, tours and receptions, as well as a concert by ’80s band ABC.

Alumni Park, which served as a check-in point for registered families, was adorned with all sorts of decorative ornaments, including a banner that read, “Welcome Trojan Families.” A sense of rekindled vibrancy filled the park as students sat down with the rest of their families to share breakfast for what may have been the first time since they left after move-in day. 

Beyond giving relatives a sense of the social elements of campus, Trojan Family Weekend also offered insight into the University’s educational aspects. Friday morning began with a Dean’s Reception hosted by each individual school, allowing family members to learn more about the specific school their student is in.

Following the receptions was a President’s Address from President Carol Folt at Bovard Auditorium. Folt thanked the attending relatives and students, then delved into a deep discussion about USC’s recent programs and initiatives, which she calls “moonshots.” She ended her address by noting the importance of establishing trust between families and the University.

Patti Mora — mother of Keilah Mora, a freshman majoring in stage management — had prior experience attending Trojan Family Weekend from her son who also attended USC. 

“This is my third time, but it’s awesome every time I come. I’m enjoying it,” Mora said.“The best part of being here? This weekend? To know that I’m gonna get to see her a little more than I’ve been able to see her the last couple of months.”

Keilah Mora said she looked forward to her mom seeing what her USC life looks like the most. 

Ivan Rubio, a freshman majoring in business administration, said he was also excited by the prospect of getting to show his family what he’s been up to.

“It feels nice that [my parents] can come onto campus as I’m living my life now and they just experience everything that I’ve been living for the past couple of months,” Rubio said.

He couldn’t wait to attend Sunday’s football game against Arizona with his mom, Cynthia Rubio, because the games tend to get “a bit crazy,” he said. Ironically, Cynthia Rubio is a graduate of the University of Arizona. The Trojans defeated the Wildcats 43-41 in a triple overtime thriller.  

One of the most popular activities students took their parents to were the pre-game tailgates. On Saturday afternoon, USC hosted its own Trojan Family Weekend Tailgate as students, families and fans flocked to Alumni Park to indulge in food, drinks and games before kickoff. 

Megan Ly, a senior majoring in health and the human sciences, said it was cool to see her uncle enjoy a tailgate. Her uncle, Sinh Ly, said getting to experience the craze of the tailgates brought a sense of nostalgia.

“It’s been a blast, so I really enjoy[ed] it. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a college campus so it’s bringing back a lot of memories, but I’m definitely having a lot of fun here with my niece,” Sinh Ly said.

Planning a large-scale event like Trojan Family Weekend is a daunting task, said Associate Vice President of Cultural Relations & University Events Adam Rosen.

“Trojan Family Weekend is a year-long planning process,” Rosen said. “We have two staff that are devoted full time to doing Trojan Family Weekend. We start as soon as this ends and we wrap up and we debrief and figure out what needs to be adjusted for next year, and we start immediately back in on that process. 

The artist for the annual Trojan Family Weekend concert is meticulously selected, he said. This year, ’80s pop band ABC was brought in to provide families a sense of familiarity. 

For Rosen, Trojan Family Weekend is an opportunity to show family members how great of an institution USC is, he said.

Many of the parents seemed to have enjoyed their weekend stay at USC. Steve Hall — father of Matthew Hall, a freshman majoring in applied and computational mathematics — said he was so happy with his time at Trojan Family Weekend that even he wants to be a USC student.

“It’s very relaxed and everybody seems safe and comfortable and he seems happy,” Hall said. “[My wife and I] want to go here.”