March 6, 2014 | Volume 2, Issue 4 | Los Angeles, CA
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THE RIGHT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD PAGE 2
ALPHA DELTA PI’S ROW CUP PHILANTHROPY page 3 GREEK OF THE WEEK page 4
The women of Pi Beta Phi rallying excitement for their volleyball philanthropy last semester. Credit: https://www.facebook.com/USCPiBetaPhi/
2 THE RIGHT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD greek life traditions
Recently, our campus held a “Hazing on Trial” info session that fraternities and sororities were required to attend. We all know there are many positive aspects to Greek Life. It gives us the opportunity to help the community, meet new people, spend time with our friends, and learn to mature and grow. However, it is important to remember
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the safety of prospective members and active members as the pledge Delta Tau Delta semester comes closer David is a sophomore and closer to its end. studying communication. Make sure prospective You may contact him at epiphone504@gmail.com. members are comfortable speaking up if they don’t want to participate in certain activities. Do not let anyone participate in activities that could cause them permanent harm. Make sure you have vigilant brothers watching out for
DAVID KARLSBERG
prospective members. If you are going to an event with another fraternity or sorority, be sure to stick with your friends and watch out for them. We don’t want our fraternities and sororities to obtain any worse sanctions, or possibly be kicked off the row. So have fun, participate in events, and help change the world; but while you’re at it, be safe.
THE ODYSSEY AT USC CREATIVE TEAM Editor in Chief David Karlsberg Delta Tau Delta Writers Jay Juster, Phi Sigma Kappa Kristen Garrett, Alpha Gamma Delta
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feature story
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ALPHA DELTA PI’S ROW CUP PHILANTHROPY JAY JUSTER Phi Sigma Kappa
Jay is a junior studying psychology. You may contact him at Juster@usc.edu. The revenue generated from Row Cup goes to Ronald McDonald House charities for the sake of giving families with terminally ill kids a place to stay near their hospitalized child. The more money ADPi raises, the more help Ronald McDonald House receives. According to ADPi’s VP of Philanthropy, Kelly Reinke, they raised over $5,500 this year, which is above average. An impressive behind-the-scenes aspect of Row Cup is how the ladies went about raising the money and raising awareness for the philanthropy in general. Besides the obvious $250 entry fee per fraternity and the $10 T-shirt sales, ADPi pursued many unique PR routes.
Here’s a question for my men out there: what could be better than waking up after a Thursday night party to an assortment of beautiful ladies, chocolate chip pancakes, and a day filled with sports? No, binge-watching House of Cards doesn’t count. Oh, and watching Will Ferrell punt a football into an audience only happens once in a lifetime. With those options taken away, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better than a Friday philanthropy. Alpha Delta Pi’s Row Cup on February 22nd proved this point in spades. For the uninformed, Row Cup is a single-elimination soccer tournament between all of the IFC fraternities. From 11am to 4pm, teams compete on McAllister field for the ultimate prize of bragging rights and the full-day companionship of their sorority captains. Again, what could be better than playing to win the heart of some of the most beautiful ladies in the nation. If you’re from another school and reading this, here’s some advice: transfer.
The first was chalking the whole sidewalk around the sorority house with artistic designs advertising the event. Since their house is right on the corner of University and 28th, this area gets a lot of traffic and is sure to be seen by lots of people multiple times. ADPi also hosted a movie night on their gigantic lawn where anyone could come by and watch Blades of Glory. For the first time that I’ve seen, the ladies put in a concentrated effort to incorporate hashtags into their marketing campaign. On the Wednesday before the event, for example, they created the hashtag of #IspyAnADPi. They told fraternity teams to take pictures of ADPi ladies around campus and post them to social media sites with that hashtag to receive extra points before the tournament started. The team with the most points would receive a first-round bye. Another way to get early points was through collecting tabs from soda or beer cans. I learned a surprising fact about these tabs after talking to Kelly. For every 500 tabs the charity collects, they can feed a family for a week! Just think about all the families that could be fed from USC alone!! Especially with the hard-alcohol ban in place. I never knew my drinking was really a form of community service. Talk about a huge résume boost.
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campus connections
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GREEK OF THE WEEK By Alyssa Poteet
This weeks pick for Greek of the Week goes to the one and only Grace Dickerson. She always seeks out opportunities to be kind to others, and has achieved a good balance between being involved in her sorority, the Greek community as a whole, and non-Greek affiliated USC events and activities. Year: Freshman Major: Sociology Hometown: Oakland, CA Sorority: Alpha Delta Pi Who inspires you? “I would say my dad because he’s been through a lot in his life but still manages to always do the right thing. He works really hard, and even while taking care of his personal responsibilities, he never turns down a chance to reach out and help others.”
What quote do you think described you best? “Why do we fall; so that we can learn to pick ourselves up” –Batman What is your favorite thing about being in ADPi? “My favorite part about being an ADPi is knowing that I can always find sisters around campus who have my back just as I have theirs.” What is your favorite thing about being Greek? “Whether it be social events, philanthropies, sisterhood events, etc. there is always something to do for every interest, and these events are usually not hard to find.” Where do you see yourself in 10 years? “I hope to be working for a law firm that works in sports entertainment and to own the Oakland Raiders.” What are your interests and hobbies? “I love watching sports, catching up on Bay area news, spending time with friends inside and outside of Greek life. Some of my interests include cute animals, history, and politics.” If you had to be stuck in an elevator with 3 people who would they be? “I would choose my roommate Alyssa Poteet, Lyndon B Johnson, and Harrison Barnes.” What’s a fun fact about you? “I was supposed to be a twin, but I absorbed the other fetus in the womb!”
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greek life traditions
PI BETA PHI HEADS TO FRATERNITY DAY OF SERVICE By Christi Cameron On both Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1, USC’s chapter of Pi Beta Phi will head to Long Beach to participate in their “Fraternity Day of Service.” Pi Phi’s Fraternity Day of Service is hosted by Nationals and will be celebrated by Pi Phi chapters all around the country, and the women of the different chapters will come together in one of four greater areas including Long Beach, Houston, Baltimore, and Nashville. One of Pi Phi’s main causes is literacy, and one of the philanthropies they work through is Champions Are Readers, also known as CAR. Car is “a unique learning enrichment program for students in kindergarten through third grade.” This Fraternity Day of Service will be benefitting this philanthropy and exemplifies a way in which Pi Beta Phi works to contribute positively to their greater cause of promoting literacy. Pi Phi’s Fraternity Day of Service is always celebrated on, or around Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2nd. Over the course of these two days, the women of USC’s chapter and from many other surrounding chapters will be stocking, organizing, and distributing over 20,000 new books to local children and families in need, as well as to local shelters, schools and libraries.
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Blair Burleson, the external philanthropy chair of USC’s Pi Phi chapter says, “It means a lot to me that we have the opportunity to directly interact with the community and see first hand the impact our sorority has.” USC will be joined by a number of Pi Phi chapters from the surrounding area. Hannah James, a new member of Pi Beta Phi says, “I am excited to meet girls from other chapters in Southern California and to be a part of a philanthropy that is going to make such a large impact.” USC will have a very large presence at the event and is planning on sending more than one hundred girls over the course of the two days. Haley Madigan, a member of Pi Phi says, “It is exciting to get the opportunity to represent USC’s commitment to service in a context beyond our campus. Interacting with other regional chapters to make a difference and showing our Trojan pride and support will be a valuable experience for everyone.
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greek life traditions
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greek life traditions
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SPRING BREAK: PARTY OR PARENTS?
Spring Break. That ever-elusive,
highly
anticipated week that only comes once a year. Whether you’re going
KRISTEN GARRETT
Alpha Gamma Delta
Kristen is a freshman studying theatre. You may contact her at garrettk@usc. edu.
to Cabo with friends, or back to Saratoga Springs
do, going to Palm Springs with her family? Is choosing to have a low-key Spring Break considered the alternative in college? Personally, I’m going to Montreal and Quebec with my good friend for a week of wine, art, and French-Canada, which seems infinitely more rejuvenating to me than beach parties in Bermuda. In fact, I’ve found, through people that I’ve talked to, that spring breaks commonly deemed to be “alternative” are more common than the stereotypical college spring break. Half of my friends are using the week to go home and see their families, and the other
to visit family, spring break is a stereotypically essential part of every college experience.
half are study-abroad opportunities through USC: Tayce Taylor is going to study business
Sensationalized by movies such as Spring Breakers, most people have the idea that spring
in India through LYNC. I guess it boils down to this: spring break is a time to rejuvenate
break is meant for day-drinking, casual hook-ups, and a week of no regrets.
and restore through whatever method is effective for you, whether it’s Mexico with your
Calling any trips that aren’t a modern-day Bacchanalia in Mexico “alternative Spring Breaks” only perpetuates this idea. What is alternative about, as Lucy Guo is planning to
friends, going home to see your family, or studying abroad. It’s a week away from your classes, so be safe and do with it what you will.
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Debate & discuss
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SPRING BREAK ACROSS THE WORLD Spring Break: A staple in any American college student’s career. Often times, it’s a week of absolute debauchery, camaraderie and minimal clothing. It’s a time to cast away the drudgery of winter coats and textbooks, and replace it with sunshine and bikinis. Usually this freedom lasts for a week, but the memories will last a lifetime.
From the first week in March to the middle of April, college students travel far and wide across the country, sometimes even out of the country, to escape the cold weather and research papers. They flood the beaches of Panama City Beach with fraternity flags. Key West’s famous Duval Street and Smathers Beach are littered with beer cans and funnels. Cruise ships book up completely, each room filled with the young and the wild. Needless to say, spring break is everything we could want and more. Growing up, I was always so enchanted with the idea of spring break. I couldn’t wait to be old enough to experience it. As Americans, we are accustomed to the idea. We almost feel entitled to have this experience. But how does the rest of the world perceive our “tradition”? They’ve seen movies, read books, stalked pictures of their stateside friends on Facebook. But what do they think of the fantasyland we call Spring Break? I’ve asked friends from all over the world to explain to me what they believe a typical American college student’s spring break consisted of. This is what they came back to me with. Enrique from Costa Rica says: “Party, alcohol and lots of naked people. Spending time with friends and going to the beach. You come back with a good tan. But it’s the same thing that happens in every country…” Sam J. from Australia says: “Living in Australia and never having experienced Spring Break in the USA, what I know of it consists primarily of what I’ve seen on TV and in movies. While I’m sure these depictions are exaggerated, it makes sense that large groups of college students holidaying in the same area would party and drink together. Our closest equivalent in Australia is ‘Schoolies Week,’ where thousands of high school students holiday at a popular beach for a week to celebrate having completed 12th grade. This generally involves parties, drinking, sex and fights, much like Hollywood’s depiction of Spring Break. I imagine the similarities with our Schoolies Week are many. Attendees’ behaviour is generally exaggerated thanks to alcohol and/ or drugs, as well as a sense of relief and relative anonymity. Residents dread it, and other vacationers avoid the area at that time of the year. Nonetheless, it is widely considered a worthwhile tradition.” Brad from the UK says: “American spring break. It has so many over the top movies based on comedies or horrors. I imagine, after the movies, that it is loads of college kids just going crazy and doing dumb stuff! They always seem to be screaming “SPRING BREAK” at the top of their lungs! There’s drinking heavily, wearing very little clothing at a beach with loud music blaring out from all angles. IT LOOKS AWESOME! You all are so hospitable. You invite the whole town to your house, even if you don’t know them. You share the giant kegs of alcohol and spirits. This in England does not happen.”
Sam T. from Australia says: “Spring break well where do I start… People in Australia would say ‘take me there.” I see spring break full of binge boozing, wet t-shirt contests, bikinis, a lot of ‘America’ in once place at a time, a lot of ‘chugging’, loose hook ups left and right, a lot of egos coming together at once, drink drank drunk, pass out. Then, wake up do it again. How it is depicted in the movies, I see this being exactly how it would be.”
LF from the UK says: “Spring break, much like my perception of America, is an idolized image. It’s fueled by Instagram pictures and Facebook uploads “spring break 2k13!!” After watching The OC, Laguna Beach and even dare I say, Spring Breakers itself, I want to experience this holiday, which is portrayed in the movies as adventurous and exciting. I hope to one day party in Cancun or Panama screaming “spring break forever b*tches” and pretending I’m in the movies. I know though in reality my experience may be a little different.” Carl from Germany says: “My perception of Spring Break boils down pretty much to everyone going to Florida at gigantic pool parties. There’s a bunch of people that can’t handle their liquor and tons of ‘friendly’ girls. It’s basically the movies fault I think this way, but I guess there is some truth to the myth.” Tom from Australia: “Spring break in America looks intense! From all the knowledge that I have gathered from movies, American girls are crazy and like to show a lot of skin, so good. There’s no better place is the world to have an Australian accent.” Ailie from Scotland says: “American spring break is portrayed as one big party. Large groups of guys or girls go away to somewhere hot, usually in the US or Mexico. Cabo seems to be a popular destination for spring break. The hotels have groups of young Americans who are there to party. At the end of Spring Break, any drama which has happened is meant to stay there, and everyone goes back to their normal lives.” Thomas from Amsterdam sums it up in five words: “Beer. Chicks. Nice weather. Chilling.” As you can see, the world perceives our spring break as a crazy, alcohol-induced rager with young girls clad in skimpy bikinis and guys running around with loads of alcohol. Now, not every spring break is as crazy as this depiction. However many of us can agree that at least once in our college career, we have experienced a similar scenario to the ones our overseas friends have described. Our college Spring Break reputation has preceded us. This spring break, I hope you all have a wild and crazy time, come back with a few unbelievable stories, but ultimately, stay safe. And if you are to meet a foreign friend along the way, make sure to show them the time of their lives. Maybe even scream “SPRING BREAK FOREVER” at the top of your lungs just to make their Spring Break dreams come true.
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Debate & discuss
BRO APP Yo u a re b l a c k out drunk and had conveniently scheduled a message to say you are going to sleep
Yo u r g i r l f r i e n d wouldn’t notice that your messages arrive at the same time every day
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JAY JUSTER Phi Sigma Kappa
Jay is a junior studying psychology. You may contact him at Juster@usc.edu.
Or, most importantly, you can read minds. Think about it: when your girlfriend receives a pre-scheduled message, she is going to respond. And unless you are the type of relationship grandmaster that can predict your girlfriend’s next 5-6 moves, then you have to pick up your phone and text her back anyway. Impossible: Me: “Hey babe, how was your day?” GF: “Awful. My roommate and I got in a massive fight” (Whoops, thought she would respond with the usual “Pretty good babe. You?”) Me: “Ya just chillin. Thinkin bout you babe :)”
If I had a nickel for every time a girl told me I don’t respond to her texts fast enough, I’d be a rich man. On the flip side, if I responded to texts faster or just sent more texts in general, I’d have a ridiculous sex life. Now that I think about it, texting solidifies a relationship. Sending texts is the modern equivalent of the love letter correspondence between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Texting is powerful. You can start a relationship over text, and you can end a relationship just as easily. Considering the power of this tool, wouldn’t it be useful to have some help or guidance? I mean, you wouldn’t wield a power saw without first consulting a manual... Right? Well, maybe a power saw is a bad example. In any case, with the help of a new application, BroApp, boyfriends everywhere can put in so much less effort to their relationship and actually make their girlfriend happier... Potentially. Be warned: this application is not for the dumb, weak, or normal. The application allows you both to input the number/name of your girlfriend and to schedule times to send her messages. That’s it. Really, this feature will only help you if: You wake up and don’t think about your girlfriend for several hours You don’t regularly text your girlfriend
GF: “What? I think I need to get driven to the hospital.. She hit me really hard.” (Definitely thought she would say “Oh ya? All I can think about is how much I love you.”) Me: “Aww I love you too, babe. Can’t wait to see you.” GF: “Can you PLEASE drive me? I’m bleeding.” No Response. Didn’t pick up the phone call. Too drunk. How do you even explain afterwards what happened? “Oh sorry baby, I actually scheduled all of my texts to you a month ahead of time and I didn’t expect you get in a fight with your roommate. If I had known, I totally would’ve changed my messages. That’s how much I love you.” For those of you looking to start using this app, just be careful. Switch up the messages, switch up the times, and make sure the only message you schedule when you are completely blacked out is “Good night babe. I’m literally passing out in the next 3 seconds and can’t respond.” It’s going to look very weird when the texts you send go from “Hey darling, how are you?” to “OMG thez bers are dlicis. I lov you soooooo much <333333” Plus, just expect your relationship to immediately end after your girl finds out. Bros. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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Scene student government
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THE GREEKS IN GOVERNMENT
#MenardRini2014 photo belongs to Andrew Menard By David Karlsberg
a large part in all of this student participation. Another influence for so many students voting was the free food and raffles taking place for those who did vote. The raffle prize
After a busy election season for the Undergraduate Student Government, The was free tickets to see Pete Carroll speak on campus. Free food included Acai Bowls, announcement for the winners for president and vice president of USG was announced In-N-Out, and much more. as Andrew Menard and Rini Sampath at Tuesday nightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; senate meeting. All of the candidates spend lots of time communicating with students about their ideas, attending
In the end, Menard Rini received forty four percent of votes, followed by Logan Heley
debates, and making presentations to different fraternities and sororities. Andrew
and A.J. Pinto. Menard has been involved in the Undergraduate Student Government
Menard is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
for many years here at USC, leading the University Affairs Committee this past year. The process was a long and difficult one for all of the candidates, but hopefully they
Over 6,000 students voted in this yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; election, which is the highest the USG has can all continue being an active part of the Undergraduate Student Government and ever seen. All of the candidates having ties in fraternities or sororities must have played show the University just how much Greek Life matters here on campus.
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special occasion
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campus connections
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laugh out loud
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@_mattloaf
@jonnysun
@B10PartyStories
Putting my alarm inside a Krispy Kreme donut as a reward for this 4 am wake up crap.
help i got reverse king midas powers
Say something I’m giving up on school
@gabby__grasso
*turns gold bar into soap bar. turns goldfish into regular fish. touches wedding band: its a onion ring*
@seetimesthree
Okay maybe just one more episode of One Tree Hill
@_BallPointJEN
nothing like a secret admirer sending flowers to make me feel like I’m constantly being watched.
@BraveSirMartin
Homework is my favorite when it doesn’t exist
@emilieoconnor2
Start watching Game of Thrones they said...
@_Ms_Moneypenny_
It’ll be fun they said...
I reserve the right to delete and re-write my own crappy tweets.
A guy just made a quite train sound to get me to move instead of saying excuse me. #choochoo
...22 straight hours on the couch later... @nalgotaz “Coffee addict” *orders vanilla bean frappuccino from Starbucks* @UberFacts Cuteness inspires aggression - Which is why we often want to squeeze things we find cute.
@NervousJr I’m dipping my donuts in non fat milk, so yes, I did go to the gym today. @rarekeith Happy Birthday, person I haven’t talked to in 3 years, I’ll write on your wall in another 365 days and “we should totally hang out” ha bye.
@jennafarrester I am hyperventilating at Harry Potter World. So excited! Move out of my way muggles! @BraveSirMartin “Against all odds, and without the help of AOL instant messenger....he got a girlfriend.” @shegotagronk We’re not promised tomorrow so you should eat as many breakfast burritos as you can today
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