By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Let’s face it, the semester is basically over. It’s the last week of classes and I bet you all are extremely stressed and exhausted. I get it! On top of studying, finishing up projects and writing essays, some of you have to pack and tidy up for the winter break. This was very difficult for me my freshman year. It was my first college break and I didn’t know what I needed to bring home and how to prepare for the upcoming holidays. My advice to you all is to make sure your room is tidy and neat BEFORE you leave for the break. In addition to not coming back to a huge mess and clutter, a clean room made my studying more effective and helped me clear my head. To help jumpstart your pre-winter break tasks, here are the tips and tricks to de-cluttering your room before you leave.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

As we inch towards the end of the semester there is so much to be done. Between exams, papers, projects, and even moving out for some students; enjoying LA and everything USC has to offer before the semester ends can be hard. To give you some events to put on your calendar; here are some events you must go to before the semester ends.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

When the long-awaited USC Village opened, nothing excited me more than the new Trader Joes. The organic grocery chain is known for their relatively cheap prices, great frozen food selection, and friendly staff. In addition to this, Trader Joe’s is a vegan’s paradise. There are a lot of products on the shelves of TJ’s that are essential to a great vegan meal. As a TJ’s fanatic and a vegan, I’ve come here to share my top 5 products from the store that will rock your little vegan belly.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

IT’S HOMECOMING WEEKEND! Midterms are over and it’s time to be on your finals grind. So much is going on! On top of finals, you may be searching for Spring and Summer internships or planning on starting your next venture. With all these tasks on your plate, you might be searching for some inspiration to get you going. Personally, I love hearing the stories of people like me, whether female or black or USC alums, to inspire my work ethic.So, in the spirit of Homecoming and to inspire you to apply to that job, get that degree or start that homework; here are 10 USC alumni to look up to.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

The first round of College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday, USC debuted at No. 17. Our nationally recognized team and school spirit, although very popular and high ranking, has yet to see any national anthem protests.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

‘Woke’ is such a buzzword these days. I see people arguing on Twitter whether their favorite celebrity is ‘woke’ and hear my friends telling each other to ‘stay woke.’ It’s also a popular slogan thrown on clothes, accessories, and across protest posters. Many people may understand the concept of being ‘woke’ as a person aligning themselves with the ideal of liberals and ‘the left’ side of the political spectrum. I’m going to take a different stance and disagree.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Los Angeles is known for film. Hopeful actresses and actors flock to the city in hopes of making it big and seeing their name in bright lights. Not only is it home to historic sets and studios- it also lays claim to one of the most highly ranked and prestigious film schools in the world, USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA). Here at USC not only do we have an amazing film school but classes and programs at the school which are open to more than just SCA students. If you’re a journalism major like myself who watches movies to stay sane or a fan of the Spike Lees, Tarintinos, and Kubricks of the world; you can live out your wildest dreams at SCA.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

It seems like it’s always something when it comes to our health and wellness. From yoga to barre to being gluten-free or juicing every day; there is always a new trend. “Mindfulness” and “meditation” are popular buzzwords these days but they’ve been a part of my life for almost 10 years! I started meditating after attending group yoga when I was in middle school. My parent’s had recently gotten divorced and my mom found it was a good way to channel and focus negative energy and thoughts. 7 years later, I found she was right.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘18

Amber Rose rose to fame as Kanye West’s girlfriend in 2008, but just shy of 10 years later, she is now known for her efforts in the world of feminism. This past weekend in Los Angeles, men, and women who identify as feminists came together for Rose’s inaugural OPENed Women’s Conference and the Amber Rose SlutWalk. The weekend kicked off with Saturday’s OPENed conference, hosted by the Amber Rose Foundation and the USC Dornsife Center for Feminist Research in Ronald Tutor Campus Center.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Lauren Jones will be the first to tell you she doesn’t have it all figured out. Founder and face of LoJo Media started her career right here at USC as a journalism student. LoJo Media is a Los Angeles based media company providing sports fans with a behind-the-scenes perspective on their favorite athletes and trending sports stories. Her biggest client is the Nike sponsored ‘Drew League. “ known for attracting LA streetball legends, collegiate athletes, and several NBA stars. Her company’s goal is to shed light on the positive impact athletes have had historically and continue to have on our society. Jones, only 24 has had many successes in her post-graduate life; including landing her dream job at ESPN and starting her own company. In my interview with her, she offered some advice for college students, specifically those with an entrepreneurial mindset.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Panelists Bethann Hardison and Mara Brock Akil spoke to each other on the challenges regarding diversity and inclusion in their respective fields, feminism and activism at ‘Race and gender in TV and fashion’ last Thursday in Wallis Annenberg Hall.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

There is no surprise that college is stressful. Between balancing work, friendships, internships and your financial life, these formative years teach us a lot about ourselves and the way we handle stress. In the event that something tragic happens, it can be hard to cope and balance it with the already strenuous college experience. In April as I was preparing for finals, my father passed suddenly. My world was flipped upside down. I talked to my dad twice everyday about anything from my lectures in my law class to Colin Kaepernick to drama with my friends. Suddenly not having him there to talk to for advice threw off daily life. No day felt complete. I was depressed - unable to focus and constantly feeling empty. Loss and subsequent grief can come in many forms. Whether it is being rejected from your dream internship (it’s happened to me), experiencing a heart-wrenching breakup, or losing a loved one, there are healthy and effective ways deal with the pain.