USC has been one of the most talked about universities in the past few weeks, but regardless is a school that never seizes to leave the media. From a countless amount of scandals, to misconduct and counts of bribery, it has undoubtably been the school taking up the spotlight in a negative way.
In light of the scandals, I felt that something needs to be said from a student’s perspective. As a current junior at the university, I’ve noticed that the recent scandals have actually brought a sense of humor throughout the student body: from teachers cracking jokes to students creating meme’s online to mock the situation. And to most of the students, this topic has actually been a bit more of a laughing matter, as opposed to a personal offense. However, the media will, unsurprisingly, portray the recent events in a different light:
To answer the question that nearly every stranger has asked me, no my family did not pay half a million to get me in, nor did any form of bribery reflect my admission decision. I mention this with a sense of humor, as I’m sure most people have jokingly asked. But in all honesty, it doesn’t pertain to a majority of the student body. What does, however, pertain to the student body is the amount of backlash that has come from solely being a USC student. Particularly, that wealth is the strongest aspect in determining one’s admission, their academics, and student life on campus.
A recent article by the New York Times titled What’s Life Like as a Student at U.S.C? Depends on the Size of the Bank Account , speaks about the “uncomfortable” level of wealth that exists on campus. Let’s take a moment to reflect whether or not USC is the only campus that faces this “issue”. Ultimately, USC is not the only school that depicts an expression of wealth. In fact, the existence of wealth and poverty is evident in almost every metropolitan city and top universities. Downtown Los Angeles is home to high rise buildings with penthouses home to the cities elite, as well as commercial buildings home to multi-million dollar companies, but two miles away is some of the worst poverty in the state.
Yet why is the topic of wealth on campus so prominent in the media? As opposed to shedding positive light to the incredibly talented and educated students we have on campus. And while some (one) may have had to pay hundreds of thousands to get in, most did it on their own merit. All to be in the exact same place, which speaks volumes about the quality of students USC has who, did indeed do it on their own.
It’s time to talk about the exceptional students who have worked tirelessly to be admitted; those who continue to excel on campus within academics, organizations, and various leadership positions. I’ve witnessed a numerous amount of students take initiative to start their own venture, dedicate an extensive amount of time to build their careers, and likewise the same amount of time to help others in some form. Just as much as I’ve witnessed students simply being college students, and all that comes along with that. From the stress of worrying about grades, to careers and the future overall. And contrary to popular belief, but most do worry about finances and paying for school, and many do not have the support of their parents.
Ultimately, there is no denial that some level of wealth exists on campus, as it does everywhere. But it is important to emphasize that it in no way reflects the student body. Nor should it take away from the revolutionary work that students continuously display, and the type of unparalleled culture that comes along with being a Trojan and encourage us to always Fight On.
