The Trojan Knights and the USC Helenes can now guard Tommy Trojan and Hecuba 24/7 for the rest of Conquest Week, the University said in a statement to the Daily Trojan.
The Trojan Knights will now be allowed to guard Tommy Trojan 24/7 and the USC Helenes will be allowed to guard Hecuba for the rest of Conquest Week, the University said in a statement to the Daily Trojan.
“In recognition of their legacy of support for USC, the university has decided that these two groups — and these two, only — will be able to resume their traditional overnight watch shifts beginning tonight,” the University statement read.
The Helenes will continue to end their watch at 11:30 p.m. regardless of the University’s decision, according to Anusha Deshpande, the director of athletics for the Helenes and a senior majoring in human biology as well as global medicine. Deshpande said this decision was made because the Helenes felt it was a double standard for pro-Palestinian protestors to not be allowed to stay overnight on campus, something the Helenes have done for years.
The University reversed their decision made Monday when a University officer told the Trojan Knights that if they stayed in Hahn Plaza past 11:30 p.m., they would face suspension, according to Julia Haffie, the president of Trojan Knights and a senior majoring in human biology.
“We’re excited that our relationship with the University is still really good and strong, and we were able to work that through with them,” Haffie said.
Trojan Knights members are still prohibited from sleeping or bringing camping materials — a change first implemented last year — Haffie said.
There were no acts of vandalism reported to the Department of Public Safety in the past 24 hours, and Haffie said “he’s looking the same as we left him.”
