After a series of emails from USC administrators regarding recent student deaths, Undergraduate and Graduate Student Councils are working to bring the student body together.
On Tuesday night, USG President Trenton Stone and GSG President Skye Parral sent an email to USC undergraduate and graduate students, staff and faculty, inviting everyone to take part in a community event in Town & Gown from 6:30-8:30 tonight, Nov. 13.
“We know this semester has been tough for many students, and through an open dialogue, we are looking to offer a space for us to gather, support one another, and discuss how to work through all of this as a student community,” said the presidents in the emails.
Pizza will be provided at the beginning of the meeting, followed by presentations from USC officials about resources on campus and ways to prioritize our well-being. The final part of the event will include a student-only discussion to “freely, openly, and constructively talk about this semester and try to find the best ways to support each other.”
The event provides a space for students to share their experiences, thoughts and suggestions after USC reached nine student deaths this semester so far.
“That’s the ultimate goal out of this event, to create a sense of community, and a community that can look forward together, as opposed to kind of being lost and figuring out what each individual should do on their own,” USG Vice President Mahin Tahsin said.
Stone and Tahsin want students to know that everyone on campus is in a similar state of mind and needs some form of comfort.
“I think it’ll really help to show that, you know, this isn’t affecting just the communities of these friend groups, but it’s really everyone on campus at this point, is confused and sad,” Stone said.
Due to the scope and importance of these incidents and the outcry from students to find solutions, Stone believes there will be “a massive turnout.”
USG encourages students in need of counseling to utilize the resources available to them, including counseling services, Trojans Care 4 Trojans, the Campus Wellbeing & Crisis Intervention, Kortschak Center, DPS and spiritual counseling services.