Q&A: Tennis pro Gugu Olmos
USC alumna Giuliana “Gugu” Olmos is the first Mexican woman tennis player to win a WTA title.
Nuestra voz, nuestra historia. Our voice, our story.
There isn’t one way to define what it means to be Latinx. Each year, thousands of Latinx students from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences enter USC. They arrive in the heart of South Central, where about half of the population identifies as Latinx but are met with the predominant whiteness of USC, an institution that is not afraid to assert its gaudy influence. The University has yet to reflect the diversity of the community it inserted itself in centuries ago; as of Fall 2020, only 15% of USC students are Hispanic, a stark contrast from the rest of Los Angeles.
For Latinx Heritage Month, we at the Daily Trojan have worked to ensure that the stories of USC’s Latinx student population are not tucked away or glossed over. This special issue is the work of Latinx students for Latinx students. However, it is not without the help of others who have understood their responsibility in actively unlearning and relearning the various identities and nuances in the Latinx community and making the space for them to share their stories. All of the stories have been written by Latinx reporters, and we selected Latinx student artists and designers both within and outside of our staff to bring this special issue to life.
“Nuestra voz, nuestra historia” represents all the cultures, identities and nuances that make the Latinx community what it is. To be Latinx is to be more than the tropes we see portrayed around us. It’s tradition, it’s family, it’s food. It’s relationships and daily interactions.
It’s sharing stories and retelling them for future generations. And we hope that this special issue can add to the collection of stories that will help define what it means to be Latinx today.
Kate Sequeira & Eileen Toh
An Interview with USC Alum and Pro Tennis Player Guiliana “GuGu” Olmos
How South Central LA molded Art-ivista Jose Richard Aviles
Students explore their Latinx identities and convey personal experiences through art. Through music, floralmarks, paintings and jewelry, art allows them to express the importance of being a Latinx student artist at USC.
Drawing on their personal experiences and identities, Sambrano uses their art to express their pride in the person they have become.
Jacob Pettis, known as Maleke, finds a balance between his passion for music and interest in design through the production of his own songs and art covers, all while trying to embrace his Afro-Latinx identity.
Using weaving techniques her grandmother taught her in Mexico, Isidoro aims to share a piece of her memory through floralmarks.
By selling her handmade jewelry, accessories and personal stickers, Reyes aims to connect with other students who identify as Latinx to find a community within USC.
