Welcome to My Humble Abode!!
Right across from the Galen Center (home to USC basketball and volleyball) and behind the beach volleyball team's court lies South Residential college. South is home to many first-year students whether they are freshman or transfer students. It is made up of three connected buildings (Marks Tower, Marks Hall, and Pardee Tower), as well as the building in the backyard, Trojan Hall. While new students have it rough at South Residential, New North Residential, and many of the older residential colleges without air conditioning, the bond RAs establish between floormates and buildings is really cool. Sometimes they schedule inside activities like crafting or pizza movie nights. Other times, they plan trips. We could grab Ramen, head to the movie theatre, or even explore some of L.A.'s nicest cafes and art galleries. These events are always free to us, even the subway transportation.
Another cool thing about first year housing is that in some residential colleges, professors live downstairs with their families. That's right, kids are growing up knowing USC as their home and us students as their role models. Having Faculty in Residence reminds students that there is life outside of these gates. It can be so easy to get sucked into living as though we're only surrounded by people our age. Furthermore, this emphasizes that professors have lives of their own, and they are always accessible to us. The university really wants students to get to know faculty, so hikes, dinners, and all kinds of activities that integrate the two groups are commonplace at 'SC.