How we love and who we love are informed by social pressures, and literature like “Hamlet,” “Anna Karenina” and “The Kite Runner” helps expose those dynamics. These stories center explorations of love and interpersonal connection amid larger political turmoil, acutely reflecting the human experience and underscoring the importance of such social ties in the face of uncertainty, conflict or change. The personal will always be political, and despite a tumultuous couple of years for the USC community, moments of connection may illustrate a path forward. 

Free expression is a cornerstone of freely loving; no type of relationship has ever existed through the withholding of feelings and words. Spotlighting those sometimes hidden expressions of love and care within our community remains an important celebration of our humanity during moments of hostility or division. 

This supplement is a love letter to our campus and our peers. By delving into the nonchalance epidemic, the role of technology in forging connections and the various ruminations on affection from Daily Trojan editors, we hope to highlight the ways in which love brings us together and keeps us apart. 

Anya Motwani

Fall 2025 Features Editor