USC students respond to heat advisory extension

The National Weather Service has extended the heat advisory for Los Angeles through the end of the week. Residents are urged to take precautions such as staying in air conditioned spaces, hydrating frequently and wearing appropriate outside clothing.

USC students are responding to the heat advisory extension by using different techniques to keep cool during the rising temperatures. “[I stay] indoors as much as I can anywhere with air conditioning, also just drinking water and just being in the shade,” said Maria Robles, a sophomore majoring in communication.

Walking to classes in the extreme heat is a concern for students like Robles. “It’s kind of hard [to stay out of the sun] because as a student, I have to walk from one building to another. So, it’s hard to stay cool at that point. The best way for me is walking as fast as I can to one class to another,” she said.

Students who do not have access to air conditioning at home have taken advantage of USC facilities to stay cool.

“My house does not have AC, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at school and in academic buildings where there is AC in the library,” said Jillian Gorman, a junior majoring in narrative studies. As Gorman pointed out, the library is a popular location for students on campus to sit and rejuvenate.

“I’ve been staying cool [by] heading out a little bit early so that I don’t have to walk as quickly to class. But also when I have breaks in between class, sometimes I’ll duck into the library or something…and like if you can find a shady spot or even just like standing under a tree,” said Faith Smith, a junior majoring in media arts and practice.

USC’s campus has many trees planted that provide shade for students walking to classes. “We’re fortunate enough in this immediate vicinity to have a lot of trees. Trees are sometimes lacking around the city, but definitely finding shade on the route to class is a big thing,” said Gorman.

Some students are living in campus housing without air conditioning and have to alter their daily routine to stay cool. Jenna Schneider, a freshman majoring in design who lives in New North Residential College, said, “It’s mainly affected the comfortability level in this sense walking to classes and going back to my dorm at night. It’s mainly hard to sleep just because of the heat. It’s hard to focus just because I’m so focused on the fact that I’m sweating and overheating.”

USC Student Health emailed a list of safety suggestions for students during the heat advisory. After viewing the email, Alina Mercado, a junior majoring in Health Promotion And Disease Prevention, said, “[As] someone who’s in public health, I do feel like making classes online would have been a really good action for students.”

Students can also utilize commuting resources provided by the university. USC has transportation options for all students to access. The university provides shuttle services and Lyft services after 6 p.m. for students looking for other ways to travel to school without spending excessive time in the heat.