L.A. TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS SUPPLEMENT
4.21.2023
8 Writing the Future
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The Daily Trojan spoke with and profiled eight of the Festival’s brightest.
13
Map and Milestones
The Power of Word
Find your way around campus — and the Festival of Books’ history.
Meet sophomore Shandela Contreras before her poetry reading Saturday.
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Daily Trojan FriDAY, APril 21, 2023 | STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1912 | VOL. 208, NO. 63
Trouble in the ‘Fish Tank’
Students suffer from toxic chemical fumes, USC slow to respond The University left the issue unresolved for weeks despite complaints. By JENNiFEr NEHrEr Assistant News Editor
The School of Cinematic Arts’ Operations department and the Department of Public Safety ignored calls to address the presence of toxic chemicals in the basement of an SCA building until a student was hospitalized, students in the Interactive Media and Games Division say. What was initially thought to be a gas leak turned out to be a bucket of drain cleaner fluid that had been left in the basement for nearly a week after reports were first made to DPS and SCA Operations on April 5. The bucket has since been removed, but the smell of burning plastic was still present as of Wednesday. Alaya Knowlton, a freshman majoring in game art, initially called DPS to report the smell of burning plastic in the School of Cinematic Arts’ basement. “It made our throats burn … Breathing became kind of hard when we were exposed to it,” she said. “I thought that could be like a fire or something.” Knowlton said DPS told her someone would look into the smell, but the odor persisted. “For a week after that, we still smelled it in that hallway,” she said. “There’s not really any evidence from my perspective of them doing anything to fix the issue from that call.” Nearly 10 days later, Sydney Walker, a freshman majoring in game development and interactive design, became so ill that she ended up in the hospital, where she received an official diagnosis of chemical inhalation. “All of a sudden my hands start shaking and my vision starts to
Sarah ruiz | Daily Trojan
The School of Cinematic Arts originally declared the problem resolved April 13, but students report they can still smell chemicals in SCI’s basement. blur,” she said, recalling the day she was hospitalized. “I ended up calling a nurse and they just … called DPS [to take me to a hospital] without even asking me.” According to messages sent in a USC Games Discord server — screenshots of which the Daily Trojan has obtained and verified — Julian Avrith, a freshman majoring in interactive media and game design, notified staff and classmates that the fumes had resulted in a hospitalization. Half an hour later, a faculty member made a server-wide announcement that students should avoid entering the “Fish Tank,” the nickname given to the classroom where the fumes originated, where many games students typically spend their time working on projects. Another half hour later, Gini Benson, an administrative budget
“I had a bit of a headache and I was having a lot of trouble focusing, which is weird for me because … I’m used to doing work in a loud environment, but I just couldn’t focus on anything.” ···
PAGE MURRAY Freshman majoring in game development and interactive design
Alex Burton
Information Technology Services investigates a sewer near SCI in relation to the smell of chemicals emanating from the basement.
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3 · News
4 · Opinion
5·A&E
assistant at SCA, made a second announcement on the server telling students to avoid the basement as a whole. Five minutes after this announcement, Peter Brinson, a professor of practice in the Interactive Media and Games Division, said DPS had already identified the issue. “I investigated with a person from Facilities and a DPS guy,” Brinson said. “It’s a false alarm. Apparently, a new liquid cleaner is getting poured into the sewer system, which is a thing they always do, and the new stuff smells a little … So I’ll see my students down there in 20-plus minutes for class!” Walker remained in the hospital for a few hours before being discharged. “They just gave up for 10 days until I got sick,” Walker said. “And the minute I got sick, within an hour, they cleared the building. So, they found it within an hour.” Benson sent a message to the Discord server Wednesday that the building’s HVAC system turns off at midnight, despite the fact that students can remain there until 2 a.m. An SCA spokesperson told the Daily Trojan Thursday that SCI’s normal operating hours are until midnight, but starting Wednesday, students were allowed to remain in the building 24/7 to work on projects. Walker said her symptoms only began to dissipate Sunday, three days after she was taken to the hospital. Page Murray, a freshman majoring in game development and interactive design, was also in the Fish Tank the early morning of April 13. When they left around 1 a.m., Murray said, they were experiencing some of the same symptoms as Walker. “I had a bit of a headache and I was having a lot of trouble focusing,” Murray said, “Which is weird for me because … I’m used to doing work in a loud environment, but I just couldn’t focus on anything. I was getting overwhelmed by the
8 · Classifieds
10 · Sudoku
noise and … My stomach was off and I was a little woozy. And I remember thinking I’m glad that I’m walking back to my dorm with someone because I felt very weak and unsteady.” Murray attended class the next morning, but not in the basement. Over the course of that class, they said, they and their classmates were given inadequate and conflicting information as to what had caused their sickness. “We were seeing updates mostly on Discord from Gordon [Bellamy, professor of the practice of cinematic arts] and from [Benson], who runs the front desk of the building, and some other professors,” Murray said. “There was a lot of confusion on what was going on and a lot of inconsistent information about what was the cause of it and what was being done until eventually we got an all-clear without a real explanation of what was behind it.” Chris Raymundo, a freshman majoring in game development and interactive design, said he thought he caught a cold during a Monday night session in the Fish Tank. However, his symptoms went away after leaving the Tank and heading to sleep. When he heard that the Tank continued to smell on Tuesday night, he realized that his assumed cold was a symptom of chemical exposure. “[It’s] just kind of disappointing that they’ve had a person be sent to the hospital multiple times and they have yet to resolve the issue,” Raymundo said. “It’s also very scary for all of us, all of the games students who are in classes, usually in the Tank in the basement, who are exposed to the fumes, even outside in the hallway. It’s just very concerning and also disappointing.” Shannon Kilbride, a sophomore majoring in interactive entertainment, said she did not initially experience any symptoms until the morning of April 13, but, on Tuesday night, her symptoms appeared more immediately.
12 · Sports
“On Tuesday I had a class in the basement,” Kilbride said. “During that class, I just started not feeling well. I was very tired and I had a bit of a headache … And then I heard news that the [smell] was back again and that DPS was not solving the situation.” Avrith said they decided to call DPS again when their friends began experiencing symptoms while in the Fish Tank Tuesday night. On Wednesday afternoon, Walker received a report from Claudia Gonzalez, facilities manager at SCA, identifying the chemical as a hydrocarbon mixture named “Cherry Flow,” which was made for use in drains as an emulsifier flow improver. The report also said that the chemical can cause respiratory irritation. “Store in original container,” the report read. “Keep containers tightly closed in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place.” The University wrote in a statement to the Daily Trojan Thursday that “Facilities and Planning Management has been working on ongoing odor issues in the basement of the School of Cinematic Arts building,” and that “they are doing all they can to fix the issues and to protect the health and safety of our community.” As to Walker’s claim that she was taken to a hospital without her explicit request, the University wrote that it was common practice for DPS to “call paramedics if a student, faculty or staff member reports respiratory or other issues.” It declined to discuss specifics, writing it was “unable to discuss health information about any individual students because of health and student privacy laws.” Walker expressed concern that the University could ignore toxic chemicals in a school building for such an extended period of time. “I don’t understand how, as somebody who works operations, after there’s reports of chemical fumes, why you wouldn’t call anyone else to fix it, or why you wouldn’t shut the building down or tell anyone,” Walker said.
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Separating the art of performance from the artist Frank Ocean and his Coachella performance let down his loyal fans.
the festival began at noon. As I stood in the crowd, we were packed in like sardines. People all around me fainted, indicated by people shrieking “MEDIC! MEDIC! MEDIC!” after a day of standing in the nearly 90-degree heat and copious amounts of dust that turned our snot black. Perhaps such an unglamorous experience is so far removed from celebrities that they couldn’t even consider it, something made evident by Coachella’s VIP sections that sit in front of the area for us plebeians. But that can’t be true, with artists more aware of crowd crushing and overheating since the disaster at Astroworld in 2021. It’s still important to remember that we should not demand artists to meet our needs when it comes to their art. We cannot demand or expect art to be produced — no matter how much we think we “deserve” it or not, the next Frank album will come when it will. But what happened at Coachella was disrespectful to those who shelled out to see him. While Ocean doesn’t owe fans anything, he has a responsibility to hold up the contract, and, at the very least, sing more than 14 songs live and not interrupt with a DJ interlude in the middle of the performance. What he did perform was incredible, I only wish there was more of it. As he has now pulled out of Weekend 2, perhaps fans can have the space to consider what they should expect from a performer like Frank Ocean. Hopefully, they will not waste their time or money.
By SArAH COrTiNA Staff Writer
Let me preface this by saying I absolutely adore Frank Ocean and have “Solo” on as I write this. But, hate and love often fall close to one another, the through line being the passion and deep emotion they elicit. I don’t hate Frank Ocean. Not at all. His music helped me forge a relationship with one of my best friends in high school and has been a consistent force in my life since my senior year. But I can’t help but find myself full of frustration as I reflect upon my experience standing on the fields of the Empire Polo Club last Sunday night. Frank Ocean’s performance has been described as erratic and confusing, to which I can attest. As I’m sure you’ve already heard, he started an hour late, was on a stage where he was nearly impossible to see, had his set intercut by a 10-minute DJ set of remixed material and then began splitting his time between singing covers and dancing on stage in what could best be described as a glorified listening party. All of this occurred only to be curtailed mid-set at 12:20 — twenty minutes past the Indio curfew — before he even touched hits like “Ivy,” “Super
Sarah Cortina | Daily Trojan
Frank Ocean deserves sympathy for the physical and emotional turmoil he has gone through but fans deserve sympathy as well for the disappointment they received after spending hundreds to see Ocean perform. Rich Kids” or “Thinkin Bout You.” Ocean’s ride or die defenders profusely explain that he is an artist, a performance artist, a perfectionist and that his art cannot be rushed. Ocean also lost his brother in 2020, when he was tragically killed at 18 years old in a car crash, something Ocean mentioned during his set. All of these points remain valid as artists, of course, do not owe their fans anything. Does anyone owe anyone anything, anyway? Plus, of course, this was Ocean’s
first official live performance in six years. It’s pretty fair to assume that he may not have worked out the kinks of the performance, especially when he was reportedly suffering from a physical injury. However, when you consider fan’s finances, the situation changes. Signing on to play at Coachella was a commitment three years in the making, so to show up with a set where you aren’t even singing half the time feels, at best, confusing and, at worst, disrespectful. The festival is a massive expense. Held in
the middle of the desert in a town where only approximately 45,000 people typically reside, one must pay $179 with additional fees for a campsite. If staying at a hotel, one must pay for the $125 shuttle pass on top of the actual festival ticket, with the cheapest general admission ticket type costing $549 with additional fees unless you want a bundle for $649. It doesn’t help that the pricing breakdown is downright confusing. Ocean’s performance drew people in droves, so much so that people were there waiting for his set when
Maybe money can buy happiness Assuming that income does not equate to joy is a privileged mindset.
be. Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu once stated, “If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself.” In his book “Republic,” Plato explains, “The more they think of making a fortune the less they think of virtue; for when riches and virtue are placed together in the scales of the balance, the one always rises as the other falls.” Even Albert Einstein commented on the idiom saying, “Money only appeals to selfishness and irresistibly invites abuse.” But how truthful are these claims? These great minds didn’t live in an age so enthralled with the idea of materialism, and they didn’t live in an economy where the top 1% of households own an incredibly disproportionate piece of a nation’s wealth. In America today, the bottom half of American families own 2% of the country’s wealth. What does happiness look like to over 168 million people? “Money can’t buy happiness” assumes that everyone places the value of money above all else, especially the well-being and needs of those less well-off. There is an extreme
By dAPHNE yAMAN Opinion Editor
“Money can’t buy happiness” is a phrase as ubiquitous as any other. Jessie J said it herself in her hit song with B.o.B. “Price Tag.” It’s not about the money, right? Those who’ve been privileged enough to put their happiness over finances may not think twice about the idiom. But for those living paycheck to paycheck, it might be a different story. Maybe happiness is just being able to afford food for your family or school tuition for your kids. Although the phrase itself dates back to the 1750s, ancient philosophers were the first to be critical of the idea that happiness can be dependent on their wealth and money. Throughout history, there have been many adaptations of what the intersectionality between income and joy may
Daily Trojan VOLUME 208, NUMBER 63
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consumer culture that has exploded within recent decades, especially with the accessibility of merchandise through online retail and social media, that inflates the idiom greatly. Maybe money itself won’t directly make those privileged enough to have it happy, but the commodities they can buy with that money may very well be the driving factor of a monetary obsession. According to BBC Science Focus author Dean Burnett, the phrase has a much more complex meaning than we give it; “Money may be [recognized] by our brains as biologically significant, but there’s an upper limit on how much rewarding even biologically significant things can be,” Burnett writes. For every household, money is an important factor in living, regardless of economic status. For the rich, acquiring more money becomes a cyclical chase: get the bag and buy a useless item that adds no value, and repeat. Consumerism has driven society to mega-mansion collecting and luxury car purchasing rather than contributing in a more meaningful way to the community — we know
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financially taken advantage of to come out of stress long enough to feel conventional joy.
that. But it’s the other side of the coin that isn’t talked about enough. Where, in one household, money might be another excuse to buy another diamond necklace to try to cure emotional distress, in another, it might mean just
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In a perfect world, money and happiness wouldn’t be equivalent, but we don’t live in a perfect world. The gap between middle-, low- and high-income families is ever-increasing, and the imperfect nature of the phrase is a reflection on the imperfect nature of society’s treatment of those who have economically been repeatedly pushed to the sidelines. Maybe money won’t buy happiness for CEOs and business moguls, but it very well could for someone trying to pay rent or feed their family.
having enough to buy your kid a toy to see their face light up. They are not the same. Since the formation of the first official currency, money has been a means for survival. Before that, commodities were exchanged for necessities. By exclaiming that money and happiness cannot be equated, we are assuming that everyone doesn’t have to worry about money. As the gap between rich and poor grows with every passing day, it’s becoming harder and harder for those who are
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Festival oF Books eXtRa PAGE 5 | FridAy, APril 21, 2023 | WWW.DAILYTROJAN.COM
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
For the 11th year, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is returning to USC’s campus for a weekend of events, performances and connection through a shared love of literature. The Daily Trojan is responsible for covering the most important news on campus. As one of the spring semester’s largest events, the Daily Trojan dedicates this supplement to the Festival, using the following pages to highlight a few of the weekend’s many offerings.
I
n the 10th Festival of Books in 2005, participating authors included Madeleine Albright, Ray Bradbury and Carrie Fisher
he Festival of Books began in 1996, incited by a lack of book festivals located in the community
L.A.
Times reporters Narda Zacchino and Lisa Cleri conceived the idea for the festival at an American Booksellers Association event held at the L.A. Convention Center
2011
st e r g e l ac e la ke p s th o ta s nt i a l t S t a t e e ve t iv he k fes n it ed b o o t he U in
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T Los Angeles Times
was the first year the Festival was held on USC’s University Park Campus, where it has remained
n the 20th Festival of Books in 2015, IBurton, participating authors included LeVar Octavia Spencer and Patton Oswalt
I
n 2020 and 2021, the Festival was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic
was highest in 2022, with Attendance an estimated 155,000 participants
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he Festival always takes place over April’s penultimate weekend Sophia Pelaez | Daily Trojan
Michelle lee | Daily Trojan
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L.A. Times promises superstar lineup An array of guests sets up the Festival of Books to be a weekend to remember. By SOlANGE AGUErO Staff Writer
Every year, Angelenos and book fanatics flock to the USC campus to hear from their favorite authors, stand in the presence of literary giants and perhaps leave with a signed copy. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books returns again this year with a lineup of stellar guests who span nearly every genre. Each hour is packed with exciting speakers from classic shows, best-selling authors and famous singers. Add in vendors and musical performances, and planning out your weekend can feel an impossible task. To ease the pressures of decision making, here are some of the events you simply cannot miss at this year’s Festival of Books.
Throughout the weekend, guests are invited to listen to conversations held by Diane Ladd and Academy Award- winning actress Laura Dern, co-authors of “Honey, Baby, Mine,” in discussion with Mary McNamara in the “Ideas Exchange” series. The book provides a personal insight on the mother-daughter duo and engages with the themes of love, art, ambition and legacy. An intimate look into the pair, the conversation on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Bovard Auditorium will likely delve further into the life of the “Jurassic Park,” “Little Women” and “Big Little Lies” star. Multiple screenings of upcoming projects will be held during the Festival. Namely, a screening of the limited series adaption of Laura Dave’s bestselling novel, “The Last Thing He Told Me,” starring Jennifer Garner, will be presented by Apple TV+ Saturday at the Stark Family Nina Tomasevic | Daily Trojan
| see LINEUP, page 6 |
Festival of Books returns to USC campus this weekend Over 500 authors, artists and celebrities are set to participate in the Festival. By DEVON lEE Features Staff Writer
Gina Nguyen | Daily Trojan
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| see RETURNS, page 6 |
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Returning to USC for the eleventh year this weekend, admission to the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is free, with additonal tickets to indoor panels available for purchase online.
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The largest book festival in the country, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, is making its annual return to the University of Southern California. The festival will run at the University Park Campus on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All outdoor events are free. Indoor panel events will require tickets to be purchased beforehand. The Festival, which originally started in 1996 held at UCLA, began as a celebration of books and reading. In 2011, disagreements
on how the Los Angeles Times and UCLA should share and reduce expenses led to the Festival being relocated to USC, where the Festival has been held ever since. “We’ve been super happy on the USC campus,” said Ann Binney, the associate director of events at the L.A. Times, in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “It’s a great location and accessible for people to come from all over the city and accessible by public transportation, which is wonderful. It’s an easily accessible campus once you’re on it and able to navigate it without lots of hills and stairs and so on.” Last year’s festival was the first held in person since the pandemic, and despite a two-year move to online events, the festival was able to draw in a record 155,000 visitors.
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L.A. - USC 3584 S. Figueroa St. Suite 5 Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 493-4261
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Salome Agbaroji is the current West Regional Youth Poet Laureate and is a finalist for the National Youth Poet Laureate. As a Nigerian American, she was the first African Los Angeles County Youth Poet Laureate. At just 17 years old, Agbaroji has performed during the 2021 Golden Globes Pre-Show and was an opening act for poet Rupi Kaur’s World Tour. Agbaroji also works with Get Lit – Words Ignite, a Los Angeles nonprofit dedicated to combating illiteracy and educational inequity in teens. As a member of the poetry troop Get Lit Players, she exposes youth to the power of poetry by performing for different schools and her community. Agbaroji will take part in the Festival’s kickoff with the Trojan Marching Band Saturday. “For my performance, expect the celebration of Los Angeles, a celebration of what happens when you bring a whole bunch of people together and a call for inclusion of all different types of people,” Agbaroji said.
The recipient of the 2023 Ch Literature, Victoria Chang’s p reveal deeply intimate refle love and identity. Chang has w tions of poetry, including the “OBIT,” “The Trees Witness “Dear Memory: Letters on W and Grief.” Chang said that has immersed herself in var Asian studies to business, th has always done is write. She of the anthology Asian Ameri Poetry Foundation. “For me, writing is just a p Chang said. “It helps me ma world in my life.” The Chowdhury Prize is g writers in the middle of their prolific, but also with remarka tial. Hear Chang in conversation istrator and USC English profes the Poetry Stage Sunday at 12:30
los Angeles Times
marie lu Marie Lu is a USC alum and New York Times-bestselling author of multiple young adult series, including “Legend,” “The Young Elites,” “Warcross” and “Skyhunter.” Lu. who was previously an art director, primarily writes dystopian and young adult novels. She will be speaking at the Young Adult Stage on Saturday at 12:40 p.m. “I’ve loved coming almost every year back to USC for the Festival of Books. I’ve loved seeing the campus grow over time,” said Lu, who graduated in 2006. “It’s been really remarkable and nostalgic to walk past places that … I used to frequent as a student, but also see all this amazing new construction that’s gone up and how beautiful the campus has gotten. It feels very much like coming home.” Her latest book “Stars and Smoke” follows superstar Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette, who race to save the world as sparks f ly between them.
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Author, journalist and lov science and culture, Anna traversed across the literar a career that spans over th 1998, Newitz earned a Ph.D American studies from UC B on to write for several online pu ing io9, which Newitz founded they have written for publicat New Yorker, The Atlantic and Post. Newitz has published t tion books: “The Terraformers Another Timeline” and “Auton Newitz will be speaking at th Alternate Words panel at Bo starting 1 p.m. Sunday. “The best part about [partic is … Opportunistically dropping finding writers that you didn’ cause it’s like browsing a bo said. “But instead of browsing seeing people talk about their w
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ACQUES, DANiEllE JONES, DEVON lEE, YJ Si & KiArA TiMO Features Staff
ting authors, the Los Angeles Times Festival of GBTQIA+ and BIPOC writers telling their stories. thors to check out while at the Festival.
Advertising Supplement Spring 2023
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andrea j. loney
Akilah Hughes is a writer, comedian and YouTuber based in Los Angeles. Author of “Obviously: Stories from my Timeline,” Hughes will be a panelist at Sunday’s “You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult” alongside Lane Moore and Judy Greer Sunday at 3 p.m. at the L.A. Times Main Stage. Hughes is currently the co-host of the “What a Day” podcast and has more than 100,000 Instagram followers. She often speaks about her journey from Kentucky to New York City to become a professional writer. Readers can connect to her work through her honest and often humorous tone as she reveals different aspects of her life through her art. “My contribution to the conversation will probably lie in being raised on the internet and seeing this place come together and realizing that the world is bigger than where you grew up,” Hughes said. “I grew up in a really small place in Kentucky, and because of the internet, I decided to leave … I think a lot of people probably relate to that, especially now as there are generations whose entire lives have been online.”
Andrea J. Loney is an award-winning children’s book author based in Southern California. Writing stories with prominent Black figures and characters, she’s earned honors such as the Lee and Low Books New Voices Award and Caldecott Honor. At the festival, Loney will be presenting her latest book, “Curve and Flow: The Elegant Vision of L.A. Architect Paul R. Williams.” The picture-book biography tells the story of the renowned Black architect, who, despite his struggles with racism and losing his parents, managed to turn his childhood dreams into a reality. “It’s been wonderful to share [Williams’ story] with all races,” Loney said. “Because even if they have not personally experienced the racism he has, all kids have had that experience where you knew you could do something and someone said no you can’t … that’s something everybody can relate to.” Loney is currently a computer science professor at L.A. Trade-Technical College and will be speaking about Curve and Flow at the USC Friends and Neighbors Stage Sunday at 11 a.m..
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los Angeles Times
los Angeles Times
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jamila rowSer
patricia Smith
ver of all things alee Newitz has ry landscape in hree decades. In D. in English and erkeley, and went ublications includd. As a journalist, tions such as The d The Washington three science fics,” “The Future of nomous.” he Science Fiction: ovard Auditorium
Jamila Rowser is a writer, editor, publisher and founder of the independent publishing company Black Josei Press, created by and for marginalized comic creators. She will be speaking at the Broccoli Theatre on Saturday at 3 p.m. Rowser’s Los Angeles Times Book Prizenominated graphic novel “Wash Day Diaries,” co-created with artist Robyn Smith, tells the story of four best friends going through their daily lives and personal hair care routines. The graphic novel celebrates the beauty and endurance of Black women, their friendships and their hair. “We wanted to make something for women of color, non-binary folks of color, queer folks of color to feel seen, to feel like they are welcomed and belong in comics,” she said about the nomination. “So, I really hope it encourages more comics for adults and women, so I love the recognition and it definitely means a lot and I hope that it can help bring some change into the industry.”
Poet, playwright, author and teacher are words too short to describe Patricia Smith. As a two-time winner of the Pushcart Prize, a fourtime National Poetry Slam champion and with nine poetry collections under her belt, Smith’s writing career has been nothing short of extraordinary. She is a distinguished professor of English at the City University of New York and a visiting professor of creative writing at Princeton University, where she was named an Academy of American Poets Chancellor in February. Her work has appeared in publications such as Poetry magazine, the New York Times and the Washington Post. “I got introduced to poetry via the stage, where there isn’t a place to crawl behind the language,” Smith said in an interview with poet Tony Leuzzi. “You have to know what you want to say.” Hear this highly-acclaimed poet read from her latest work, “Unshuttered,” at the Poetry Stage Saturday at 2:40 p.m.
cipating], honestly, g into panels and ’t know about beookstore.” Newitz g the books, you’re work.”
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This year, participants can expect a similar or larger number of visitors, according to Adam Rosen, associate vice president of Cultural Relations & University Events at USC. The Festival will feature over 500 authors, poets, celebrities, artists and musicians. Some celebrity guests include actors Laura Dern, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Garner, fashion designer Steve Madden, former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams, musician Joan Baez, singer Meghan Trainor and Broadway performers Leslie Odom Jr. and Idina Menzel. For several months leading up to the Festival, the L.A. Times worked with its contacts in the publishing industry to select a variety of contemporary authors and artists. “We have a whole new crop of authors,” Binney said. “Every year it’s new authors, new celebrities, because it’s all based on books that have just been recently published. So it takes a long, long time to put it all together.” Scheduled events will take place at the multitude of stages set up around campus, including the L.A. Times Main Stage, L.A. Times en Español Stage, YA Stage, Poetry Stage, Children’s Stage, and USC Friends and Neighbors Stage. In addition to participating artists and authors, the Festival will include hundreds of exhibitor booths composed of small businesses, book publishing companies and various other foundations and merchants. This year’s Festival will feature a new food court area with food trucks, culinary-related booths and a photo booth. The new area also includes visiting departments from the L.A. Times including the food team, freelance team and art department. In partnership with the L.A. Times, who plans the event, USC works to integrate the local community into the Festival. “There’s so much happening on that side that is really engaging now, not only just businesses that are being brought in to the festival to get to people outside of the local area, but also bringing in the local community to see what else is here,” Rosen said. “There are lots of bookstores and presses that are based locally in Southern California and in L.A. as well that are here exhibiting.” Annalee Newitz, a journalist and author, spoke of their background and how it led them to participate at this year’s event as a panelist on “Science Fiction: Alternate Worlds.” “I’ve always just been a super nerd, and I love science and tech, and I love science fiction, so I feel often like I’ve just been tricking people into letting me write things for money,” Newitz said. “The panel that I’m on this year at the L.A. Times [Festival of Books] is with several other science fiction writers who are also really into worldbuilding and all the intricate research that goes into building a fake world.” According to Rosen, the Festival offers a wide range of activities that not only can satisfy avid readers but also the general student body and the surrounding L.A. community alike. “It’s really about exposing the community … to a festival like this that’s about literacy and reading and community,” Rosen said. “Whether it’s just the food trucks that are there over the weekend that they, too, can go out and participate in or being able to walk into the center of campus and grab a book or, you know, get free [samples] that are always being handed out or just experience the crowds … I think that environment is really exciting for the student population.”
Trojans take the stage By KiMBErlY AGUirrE Arts & Entertainment Editor
More than just literature, the Festival of Books provides USC Thorton students with the opportunity to perform their music.
marcello carelli Marcello Carelli is a drummer creating contemporary jazz tunes with his quintet consisting of saxophones, trombone, piano, bass and his drums.
mateo Mateo Gonzales, who creates music under the name MATEO, combines indie-rock beats and lush harmonies. Gonzales, a junior majoring in
maddi laSker Maddi Lasker began her musical career in theater before discovering the world of pop, R&B and rock. A junior majoring in popular music
lyn Starr A Fall 2022 graduate, Lyn Starr combines hip hop, R&B and neo soul. Citing Childish Gambino and Tierra Whack, Starr admires any
hailey wild Hailey Wild started writing music as a way to cope with her emotions. With the bands Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins serving
ellie williamS Ellie Williams is a rising indie pop star, with music reminiscent of the stylings of Maggie Rogers and Julia Michaels.
Carelli, a graduate student majoring in jazz studies, found his musical footing living in New York City listening to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole. After sitting in with his dad’s band at seven years old, Carelli “knew [he] wanted to be playing music for the rest of [his] life.” “Music is obviously a unifying art form, jazz, especially. It’s all about interaction, communication,” Carelli said. “Regardless of any language barriers, music is just a way of bringing people together.” popular music performance, takes inspiration from a wide range of artists, including Journey, Sia and the Eagles. When performing, he focuses on audience work, believing that music is created to form relationships and connections with listeners. “I take the audience on a journey,” Gonzales said. “My objective in general is to make people feel something that they haven’t felt that day, or alter their state walking into the room, they should walk out a different person than they walked in.” performance, she promises a high-energy performance, bringing the vivacity of famous rockers such as Bono and Hayley Williams. With a band composed solely of her close friends, her performance is not only fun for the audience but also for herself. “It’s a very rewarding feeling, getting to share your music with people and getting to watch people connect to it,” Lasker said. “Getting to watch people absorb your music and actually connect and feel it and enjoy it is such a valuable and amazing thing.” artist with an eclectic style and tries to emulate that himself. When performing, Starr isn’t afraid of getting out of breath, in fact, he welcomes it, seeing it as a sign of a great performance. Starr often finds himself getting swept up in the energy of the crowd and other musicians. “It’s so great to be able to lock all of our artistic minds together, our creativity together and feel each other’s freestyles and improvisation that happened on the stage that only happened right then and there,” Starr said. as inspirations, she approaches live performances with a classic rock band setup. A guitar, bass and drum kit by her side, Wild creates an upbeat, energetic performance. “I’m just giving people an excuse to kind of let loose a little bit. Whether it’s moving around, or emotionally feeling able to be heard,” Wild said. “I don’t feel like in the day-to-day, we have like a lot of outlets where we’re allowed to kind of take a breath and just let ourselves be.” The senior majoring in popular music performance first dipped her toes into music as a toddler, playing “Guitar Hero” and “American Idol” on her PlayStation 2. Inspired by love, old-school jazz and classic rom-coms, Williams promises to bring high energy and good vibes. “I love to create this experience and environment for anyone watching, that makes them feel good, makes them want to dance,” Williams said.
photo: Sophia Myka M. Basilio
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Theatre at 10 a.m. If an early screening is not enticing enough, attendees will also receive a free trial subscription to Apple TV+ and a copy of the novel. At 12:50 p.m., Garner herself and Dave will later be joined on the L.A. Times Main Stage by L.A. Times television critic Lorraine Ali to discuss the upcoming series. The festival will also feature notable actors who have dipped their feet in the children’s literature writing pool, such as Max Greenfield, author of “This Book Is Not a Present.” The Emmy-nominated actor will be at the Children’s Stage Saturday at 2:30 p.m. — an event open to Schmidt fans of all ages. Also at the Children’s Stage will be Idina Menzel, co-author of “Loud Mouse” along with her sister, Cara Mentzel. They will take the stage Sunday at 2 p.m. An icon for Broadway and Disney fanatics alike, Menzel fans can look forward to listening to the person responsible for bringing Elphaba from “Wicked” and Elsa from “Frozen” (2013) to life. Jennings will also be in conversation with Meghan Trainor, the Grammy award-winning singer of “All About That Bass” and “Made You Look.” Trainor is the author of “Dear Future Mama,” in which she shares her experience of recently entering motherhood and provides advice to new parents. Trainor, who regularly posts her son, Riley, on TikTok, to the delight of many fans, will be speaking about her journey through pregnancy, birth and new motherhood. However, the event, which will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the L.A. Times Main Stage welcomes all “Mother” fans. Fellow singers and actors Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nicolette Robinson
— authors of “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know” — will converse with L.A. Times Op-Ed columnist LZ Granderson about their new children’s book Saturday at 2 p.m. on the L.A. Times Main Stage. They will later be joined by illustrator Joy Hwang Ruiz at 4 p.m. on the Children’s Stage to further discuss their book. Susanna Hoffs, singer and cofounder of pop-rock band The Bangles, will be in conversation with Deborah Vankin about her debut work, “This Bird Has Flown,” Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on the L.A. Times Main Stage. Music lovers and fans of her songs, such as “Manic Monday” and “Eternal Flame,” will be able to enjoy a special musical performance as an addition to the talk. Literary superstar Ottessa Moshfegh will be speaking at the Norris Theatre Saturday at 11:15 a.m. in an event called “What Fiction Has to Offer.” Moshfegh is most known for her literary fiction novel, “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” a quarantine-“BookTok” classic. Following the life of a conventionally attractive, rich, depressed woman in New York City, Moshfegh’s dark wit enticed audiences. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Moshfegh is on the rise, publishing her newest novel “Lapvona” last year. Along with Moshfegh, the festival will spotlight other writers shaping a new young adult landscape through the panel discussion “Young Adult Fiction: Sexuality, Friendship and Queer Romance” featuring notable authors like Patrick Ness, Robbie Couch, James Sie, Adam Silvera and Tess Sharpe. Silvera is the author of another “BookTok” classic — “They Both Die at the End.” The discussion will focus on the exploration of young
Trenyce Tong | Daily Trojan
love through an LGBTQIA+ lens and will take place Saturday at 4:40 p.m. on the YA Stage. Book lovers looking to be inspired should tune into former Georgia state Rep. Stacey Abrams’ event about her newest book “Stacey’s Remarkable Books.” Abrams will be at the Festival of Books Sunday at 11:45 a.m. on the
Children’s Stage and 12:40 p.m. on the L.A. Times Main Stage. Further highlighting the vastness of L.A.’s literary culture are the poet laureates that will be in attendance. California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, L.A. Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson and L.A. Youth Poet Laureate Jessica Kim will each read from their respective collections,
bringing their diverse perspectives to one of the most exciting literary events of the year. At the end of the day, there truly is no one right way to do the Festival of Books. A weekend dedicated to appreciating the art of literature is every bookworm’s dream, so explore some new writing, stay hydrated and, most importantly, enjoy yourself.
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Sophomore reinforces the power of word Shandela Contreras will read her poem at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. By DANiEllE JONES Features Staff Writer
What matters most in poetry is whether it spurs the reader to feel something. That’s what Shandela Contreras, a sophomore majoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing, learned from Los Angeles Poet Laureate and USC writer-in-residence Robin Lewis. Even if the reader can’t understand every piece of your work, as long as they feel something, your work has done its job, Lewis told her. This year, Contreras will take the stage at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books as a published poet, ready to inspire emotions in her audience. Publishing poetry books was a childhood dream of Contreras’, and she’s found heroes in poets Maya Angelou, Natasha Trethewey and Amanda Gorman. Poetry was the vehicle through which she expressed her identity, culture and thoughts, but she didn’t know how or where to share her work until she learned about the independent publication route. “The independent publishing world has really widened in scope [of what’s possible],” Contreras said. She found resources to develop her craft through Get Lit, a non-profit focused on encouraging spoken word performances, technological literacy and community. Major themes of love, grief and education became the pinnacle points of her collection. The Get Lit program printed a personal copy at the end of the program, but, wanting to share her work with more people, Contreras independently published her chapbook, “Mellow Ballads, that move your bones,” in May 2021. The project expanded her dreams as a writer as she began to share the joy of poetry with others. Priscilla Calderon, a sophomore majoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing and psychology, said she remembers the first time
voices of the future,” she said. “Just hearing their lived experiences and knowing that I’m a product of their experiences and what they faced is how I know that my poetry can exist with their voices and their stories.” Ivonne Rodriguez, the mother of one of Contreras’ peers from the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative, said Contreras has “found a way to step into her power” and continues to grow as a scholar and poet. NAI’s 3-Part Art program partners with Vision and Voices and, as a project specialist, Rodriguez has witnessed the impact that meeting other first-generation artists and business owners has had on Contreras’ passion for poetry and using it to create safe and creative spaces for the residents of her home community in South Central L.A. “Shandela has taken this gift that she has and … She’s sharing it,” Rodriguez said. “She is still in the community, reinforcing the power of word.” Shandela Contreras Last January, Contreras edited and Shandela Contreras, a sophomore majoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing, uplifts her published the anthology “Bells Toll Ad community as a published author, Los Angeles Youth Poet Ambassador and creative writing teacher. Infinitum,” highlighting the stories of Black, Indigenous and women of colblocks away from USC’s University California, Josh Fryday, invited her she saw Contreras perform her poetor from the Ahmanson Senior Citizen to read at the statewide launch of the Park Campus. When she was prory at their high school, the James A. Center. Next, her class is working on College Corps Fellows program in moted from intern to employee at Foshay Learning Center. a collection of memoirs. Contreras beSacramento. She wrote the poem, the Angeleno Court to teach her “People were definitely moved by lieves that there is no age limit at which “Ode to Education,” to celebrate the proposed creative writing class, her the performance,” Calderon said. a person should stop telling stories. program’s support of low-income stugreatest challenge was building trust “We immediately were just drawn “Once you’re an author, you’re alwith her students, all of whom are dents in attaining access to higher edto listen to what she had to share esways going to be an author,” Contreras several decades older than her. ucation. This was a subject dear to her pecially since that was her first time said. “I just want them to know that “It took a lot for them to even trust because it came from personal experisharing with our peers.” they can always produce something.” me as a writer, a teacher because ence, and she expressed gratitude to Contreras has since read spoken Attending the Festival of Books as I was only 17 years old,” Contreras her parents for their sacrifices. word performances as a L.A. Youth a published author is a full circle mosaid. “But they built trust [with] me “It was just really exciting that I Poet Laureate Ambassador. The proment for Contreras, who’s a longtime and I trusted that they would be vulgot to share that moment with my gram, of which she was a finalist in Festival attendee. She said she remom because when I wrote [‘Ode to nerable with their stories.” 2022, provides her opportunities to members the years she spent visiting Education,’] it was talking about all She had five students, and their speak with audiences around the city the Festival with her mom and dreamt the people who sacrificed themselves skills varied between first-time poto propel civic engagement and inof sharing her stories with others. This etry writers and Ph.D. students. for people like us, meaning low-income spire youth to use their voices. year, that dream became real. Contreras began with prompts students,” Contreras said. “That’s what “Every single performance is spe“Just knowing that I get to step and response poetry to develop her that poem was really about: the sacricial to me,” Contreras said. “I don’t up on that stage and be elevated and students from rhyming poems to fices that they make and the sacrifices care how small or big the venue is or celebrated by my mom and other unique pieces of work. By getting to that we made for ourselves to excel at how many people are there, but just people at USC and all my friends and know her students, Contreras said any opportunity to reach across the highest level possible.” family at the L.A. Times Festival of she began believing more in what just a single person is always going Acknowledging the resilience Books,” Contreras said. “I’m just so her work can do for her community. of family and neighbors, Contreras to mean the most.” excited to do it. I’m really glad that “I find great inspiration from them teaches a creative writing class at the Contreras fondly remembers I got this blessing and this opportuTheTimes voicesSyndication of the past shape Ahmanson Senior Center, just aThe few New…York the time the chief service officer of Sales the Corporation nity to do so.” 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Friday, April 21, 2023
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31 Easily put out
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11 Commoner 15 Pest so named because it was originally found in royal tombs 16 Rocker Grohl 17 Join a boxer rebellion? 18 Spot 19 1967 song by the Monkees 20 Learning opportunity, so to speak 22 Game from Africa 23 Gel-ocity maker 24 Superlatively swell 26 First aid provider 29 Carriage with its horse
35 Tech giant once known as Multitech 36 Ride at some amusement parks 37 Four-time Emmy winner Woodard 38 It can mean hello or goodbye 39 Bit of film 40 Ones calling across the ocean? 42 Colorless bodily fluid 44 Moreover 45 Isn’t for you? 46 Unimaginative 48 It’s just past due 49 English ___
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE M E M E G A MM A I L S A A R O A R F E U D A X E D S A H L S P E W A L K I N G S N O B DW I S E T I N T A N G L E E B I D U N N O E A R A I R E S V I P H OW E M A S T E A S T WO U L D E V E R R O I L O S L O S T I R S O B A N A S E E R S T WD L E D U M M I D G U T N A S A L A T T E A R I T U M B L E W E E D Y I P S E R I E S G A R P U T A H S P E N D S M O G P E L E
50 Examined, as a dog might 53 Pivotal part of a revolution 56 Pallid 58 One fearful of crowded places 60 Ready to be driven 61 Flew over seas? 62 Mixes things up, say 63 Wannabes
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25 Some china
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27 One seeing stars upon waking, perhaps 28 Queen with a protégé 29 Prepare some leaves for burning? 30 Just for kicks and giggles
41 Dense buildup in makeup powder containers 43 Entertains, with “over” 47 Like some online purchases 48 Give hints about, but not more
51 Lead-in to cast or castle 52 School group, informally 53 Well, essentially 54 Modern ride 55 Hotel capacity 57 N.F.L. divisions 59 Didn’t seek, say
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Jaden Dhaliwal | Daily Trojan
Freshman right-handed pitcher Michael Ebner threw 1.2 innnings in the win against Cal State Northridge. In the relief appearance, the South Pasadena native gave up four hits and one earned run.
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The Trojans hope to get back on track after getting swept this past weekend. By THOMAS JOHNSON Staff Writer
For USC baseball, it’s time to beat the Bruins. The Trojans are preparing for a crucial weekend series against their crosstown rivals, which might decide where they finish in the Pac-12 this season. UCLA has had USC’s number recently, taking four of the last five series against the Trojans. But that one series win for USC was last year, when they took two of three against the Bruins. “Here we are, we got UCLA. It’s the rival, obviously,” said Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “It’s a big series because we’re playing UCLA, but it’s also a big series because we just lost three straight last weekend.” Just as Stankiewicz said, the Trojans are coming off a weekend in which they were swept by Oregon State, dropping their Pac12 record from 9-3 to 9-6. Not only is this a rivalry series, but it has serious implications for the Trojans in the Pac-12. USC is currently tied with Oregon for fourth in the Pac-12, and UCLA now sits at third with an 8-5-1 conference record. If the Trojans take the series, they can jump UCLA in the standings. The Trojans could also jump more teams in the standings, depending on how other conference series go across the weekend. Despite losing three of their last five games, the Bruins will pose multiple challenges for the Trojans this weekend. UCLA has four hitters with six or more home runs this season. While USC has been good against the long ball this season,
only giving up 37 home runs in 36 games, two of three Trojan starting pitchers gave up a home run against Oregon State last weekend. “Your pitches have to vary, you can’t get caught in throwing a fastball in a certain count,” Stankiewicz said. “Our pitchers got to trust their stuff and down in the zone, you miss down in the zone, you get hit sometimes. But you miss up in the zone, you get hit harder. And a lot of the time you hit home runs when you’re up in the zone.” This will not be the first time USC and UCLA have faced off this season, though the results did not count toward the Pac-12 standings. The two squads played each other in early March, with the Bruins winning 5-3 when they were ranked No. 17 in the country. The Trojans gave up a home run in that game, but it was the Bruins’ pitching that helped seal the win. “They’re going to throw a certain pitch and if we don’t make an adjustment offensively, they’re just going to keep doing it,” Stankiewicz said. “So we’ve got to be able to make some adjustments going into this series and get prepared for a lot of offspeed there down in the zone. And if we can put ourselves in a good balanced position and see it, I think we’ll be fine.” The Bruins post a 3.65 team ERA, compared to USC’s 4.08 team ERA. The impetus will be on senior outfielder Cole Gabrielson and senior infielder Johnny Olmstead, the team leaders in RBIs, to push across those runs for the Trojans. But to put Gabrielson and Olmstead in those situations, the hitters before them have to get on base. Freshman outfielder Austin Overn, who is only behind Gabrielson for the team lead in on-base percentage, went 3-for-13 against the Beavers last weekend. USC’s leadoff man will look to right the ship against the Bruins
as he is still looking for his 11th triple on the season, which would break the all-time USC singleseason triples record. These two teams are very different now than in that first matchup. The Trojans entered that game with a 5-4-1 overall record and have gone 17-8 since that game. On the other hand, the Bruins entered that game with an 8-2 overall record but have gone 12-9-1 since that game. “We’re a different team than we were two months ago. I think we’re a better team than we were two months ago,” Stankiewicz said. “I believe the guys know that as well. We’ve been through some fires … Hopefully all of those experiences, win or loss, puts our guys in a mental frame of, ‘Hey man, I’m more prepared to play UCLA, weekend series, now than I was two months ago.’” As it is a rivalry series, the team is pulling out all the stops to attract fans. Football Head Coach Lincoln Riley, will throw out the first pitch for Friday’s game. Saturday’s game will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1998 National Championship team’s win — the last time USC baseball won a national championship. Despite all of the festivities, Stankiewicz emphasized that the team can’t get ahead of itself. “You can’t let the emotion affect what you’re going to do,” Stankiewicz said. “We just got to stay within ourselves and play good fundamental baseball. If we do that, we’ve got a shot. If we don’t, we don’t have a shot. And it’s not that complicated. It really isn’t.” USC recovered from their Oregon State sweep by beating Cal State University, Northridge Tuesday night 8-5, but UCLA will pose a tall task. The Trojans begin their three-game set with the Bruins Friday night at 7 p.m.
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Beach volleyball splits matches at Mapes USC defeated LMU after losing to crosstown rivals UCLA earlier Thursday. By lEilA MACKENZiE Staff Writer
Sprawled across the lawn of UCLA’s Mapes Beach, fans, family and students seeking that mid-quarter tan gathered to watch the No. 1 Bruins take on their crosstown rivals, the No. 3 Trojans, in the conclusion of the regular season trilogy. USC fell to UCLA in a dual score of 4-1 Thursday afternoon as UCLA clinched the dual in straight games. However, when the Bruins clinched the dual point with a win over No. 3 pair junior Olivia Bakos and freshman Gabby Walker, cheers from the crowd were eerily shortlived. The excitement defused to a mere silence of satisfaction — the Trojans were able to finish strong. In the season’s first tournament, USC edged out a 3-2 home win over the Bruins. This past weekend, UCLA evened the matchup with a 3-2 score in the Center of Effort Challenge in San Luis Obispo. In the Trojans’ loss today, duals between USC and UCLA, the only two programs to win the NCAA national championship, remained unyielding and unpredictable. No. 4 pair for USC, graduate student Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope and freshman Madison White, began the first flight. This pairing is unique because White typically plays the No. 3 position beside graduate student Madison Shields. Together, they boast a 15-match win streak, the longest at USC this season. No. 2 senior twins Audrey and Nicole Nourse joined Pope and White in the dual’s first flight. UCLA’s 6-foot-2 graduate student Abby Van Winkle took over the second set with explosive blocks and spikes to give the Bruins their first dual point, 21-15, 21-11. White and Pope fought hard on court two to keep the game score tight, but were unable to win the point on court four. When the second flight approached the courts, comeback hopes filled the air, and the DJ cranked up the music. As “Keeping Your Head Up” by Birdy kicked off the final three
louis Chen | Daily Trojan
The Trojans end the regular season with a 26-3 record as they prepare to take on conference foes in the Pac-12 tournament next week. games, No. 1 duo junior Megan Kraft and junior Delaynie Maple, Bakos and Walker on court three, and No. 5 pair of freshman Bailey Showalter and graduate student Jenna Johnson took to the sand. On courts three and five, the Bruins clawed back to secure the first set, but the Trojans remained resistant to the Bruins’ efforts to get a dual clinching point. Walker and Johnson heightened the tension and intensity on their respective courts when they delivered a deluge of
kills. Regardless of the narrowing scoreboards, the Bruins ran away with victories on both courts. After the Trojans fell down 3-0, the crowd enclosed court one. Maple and Kraft lit up court one to avoid the sweep and reinvigorate the Trojans’ confidence. In one week, the Bruins have fueled their hot streak with two consecutive wins over the Trojans and a victory over previously undefeated TCU. The Trojans will have to match the Bruins’ rate of improvement fast, as they expect
to face UCLA again in the Pac-12 Championship next week. USC worked to make adjustments and get back on track just hours later, when they dominated their final matchup of the regular season against No. 5 Loyola Marymount. The Nourse twins tallied USC’s first point over the Lions with a three-setter win. They improved to 84-16 all-time, seven wins from matching the second-highest win total by a pair in program history. Johnson and Showalter sealed the Trojans’ 4-1 claim to the dual with a
thrilling win when they came back from a 34-32 loss. As the season continues, the Trojans are looking to add to the record book. This past weekend’s win over LMU marked USC’s 300th win, making it the first program to achieve this record. Following the conference championships, USC will continue to fight to become the first three-peat NCAA national champion. The Trojans return to action April 26 to 28, when they’ll battle for the Pac-12 Championship at the Beach Volleyball Stadium in Stanford.
Lukaku suspension reignites discussion of racism in soccer Jason Lopez Lopez L I N E O F S C R I M M AG E
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n the first leg of the Coppa Italia fixture between Juventus and Inter Milan that ended 1-1, Inter forward Romelu Lukaku scored a last-minute equalizer via a penalty. Throughout the match, the crowd hurled racist insults at the Belgian who, after scoring, hushed them and told them to “shut up” in Italian during his celebration. The referee who was officiating the match, Davide Massa, deemed Lukaku’s actions provocative and said he celebrated excessively, brandishing the 29-year-old his second yellow card of the game. The referee received a great deal of criticism for his harsh decision, but the Serie A upheld the decision and closed off a section of Allianz Stadium for one match.
More criticism was thrown at the Italian Football Federation after Lukaku did the same celebration and wasn’t booked in the first leg of Inter’s matchup against S.L. Benfica. Legendary French player Thierry Henry was critical of the decision by the Federation to give Juventus a measly one-game suspension for a section of the stadium, which the Federation later suspended, and talked about his own experiences as a player. “Every time, it was your reaction that was punished,” Henry said. “I’ve had enough of looking at the ‘No to racism’ logo on our shirts. I’ve had enough of that lousy picture at the beginning of the game … Can we focus on some other places and see what we can do properly about this?” Racism in soccer has always been an issue in all parts of the world. One of the biggest incidents that stuck out in recent years was after the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy. The game
went all the way to penalties, with England losing the shootout 3-2 after Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka all failed to convert their penalties. All three players — who are Black — received a lot of racist comments, especially Saka, as he was the last penalty kick taker and had the opportunity to send the game to sudden death. More recently, New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir said a racial slur directed toward San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse during their respective team’s matchup earlier this month. Vanzeir issued an apology to the public for his actions later on, as most people who get caught with this action do. The MLS handed Vanzeir a six-game suspension for it, but whether that’s enough of a punishment could be debatable. These issues need to be addressed in other aspects of the sport. Pundits and players feel that campaigns to fight racism in soccer are performative and add no real conversation or
help. Henry’s co-pundit and former defender Micah Richards gave his two cents on the issue during a CBS segment on Lukaku’s suspension. “For the Italian [Football Federation] or whoever it is dealing with it over there, to uphold the yellow card as well, what sort of message is that sending out? It’s almost like they’re condoning the situation,” Richards said. “Until real change is implemented, we’re gonna be talking about the same things over and over and over, and it’s tiring.” Initially, I thought the campaign wasn’t for the older generations who hurl these sorts of comments toward the players, because it’s hard to change someone with that kind of mindset at an older age. I viewed it as something for the young fans to show them that they need to support all players regardless of race and that, at the end of the day, it’s just a sport. But not giving these teams and groups of individuals any real punishment, and providing fans with an
environment to behave in a derogatory manner, will allow for racist comments to continue. The suspensions handed out to fans and teams need to carry significant weight and impact them heavily in order for things to change. Not only that, but the overall environment in the sports world needs to go through some sort of change so soccer federations can realize that they’re letting people off very lightly for serious actions. Deciding new punishments will be the hard part, but as long as these discussions are taking place, those who suffer most from it have their voices heard and when the sport implements actual changes, soccer will be headed in the right direction.
Jason Lopez Lopez is a senior writing about the intersection of sports and sociopolitical issues in his column, “Line of Scrimmage.” He is also a sports editor at the Daily Trojan.