In two back to back weekend football games, USC dropped the ball when it came to welcoming our opposing schools. In an attempt to partake in rivalry, trojans crossed the line in offensive statements. Our reporter, Victoria Hunt, delves into the dark reality of USC’s elitism.
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USC is known for immense school pride. Just enter campus on any fall weekend and every square inch of open space is covered in tents and coolers by students and alumni tailgating for the big football games. Frat row is filled with parties; houses are decorated with flags and cardinal red game-day attire.
It is nothing new for USC students to don signs dissing the opposing team, especially UCLA, the university’s biggest rival.
But when exactly does rivalry go too far? For many students, the line was crossed on November 20th, when a few student houses hung offensive signs on their porches. The USc Surf Haus, famous for throwing concerts and tailgates, put a sign by the entrance of the house reading, “You can’t afford us.” Another student house’s sign said, “Your dad works for my dad.”
According to the University, 21% of students come from low-income households, and more than three quarters receive financial aid.
So why did someone think it was appropriate to brag about the fact that USC has such a hefty price tag?
Erin Lucid, a USC theatre major, found the signs to be disturbing. She felt the signs may have been made in good fun, but just layered on the stereotype of the University of Spoiled Children.
LUCID: I thought it was embarrassing to use reverse ‘Daddy’s Money’ slogan. It was like really pathetic and I was really embarrassed that people, especially at that house. Cause I’ve had really good interactions with people at the surf house would put that up. It’s quite elitist and icky.
Nicole Guo, a graduate student in Applied Psychology, had mixed feelings about the issue.
GUO: I think when I first saw the posters on the day, during the game day I was obviously in the school spirit, so I initially probably laughed at it. But afterwards, I realized just how much sayings like that really exemplify that really negative stereotype about USC.
Trojans went further than hanging signs at the BYU game. Students in the stadium rallied, grotesque expletives about the school’s religious nature. The chant was incredibly offensive to the predominantly Mormon school and USC Athletics Department issued an apology on their Twitter, calling the chant “distasteful” and “not aligning with Trojan Values.”
When USC already has a reputation for being an elite school of rich students, these bad manners only feed into the negative exclusivity felt by other students and schools.
In a statement made by the USC surf team, they wrote that the sign was not representative of their organization’s beliefs.
We also reached out to the athletics department but have not received a comment yet.
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For more about this story, check out this previous Annenberg Media article.