For Sam Stack and Christian Shaw’s USG ticket, finding a balance between increasing accessibility and honing in on that ‘Trojan Pride’ is the best approach.
While both Stack and Shaw have been involved with USG since stepping foot on campus, they believe personal experiences speak to what needs to change on campus.
Shaw spent his first year at USC on electronic benefit transfer (EBT), receiving food stamps. One way the Stack Shaw ticket hopes to increase accessibility is to help campus dining options accept EBT as a form of payment.
The Trader Joe’s and Target in USC Village are the only places directly on campus that currently accept EBT. Stack and Shaw say they are planning on working with Seeds Marketplace to help them accept EBT.
“I have classes that end at 9:50 a.m., and then I have one at 10 a.m.,” Shaw said. “I can’t go to Trader Joe’s in the village or I’ll be late for my class. However, Seeds is right there on my way to class.”
Last semester was filled with disagreement over USG proceedings, which led to numerous protests and sit-ins during senate meetings. Stack and Shaw see a need to turn senate meetings into a safe space where all discourse is welcome.
“I think letting people know that this is a safe space they can come with their concerns, their life, and what’s going on on campus [is important],” Shaw said.
Stack added that building stronger attendance at senate meetings is a priority, and he hopes to implement an incentive system to catalyze this change.
“Maybe get a coupon to something at Seeds,” Shaw said.
Another key experience in Shaw and Stack’s lives is Greek life, as both are members of a fraternity at USC.
Greek life has made its mark on USG elections in the past, and the current president is in the Greek system. However, one of the tickets in the upcoming election looks to change this and takes a critical stance on the Greek system.
Shaw and Stack said they embrace their experiences in the Greek system. Shaw said one of the many benefits of Greek life include the potential to build a community and network.
I found there is definitely a good network of people who I can, you know, go to with my problems,” Shaw said. “I also [found] just genuine people.”
But they also believe the system is imperfect and in need of change. One aspect they hope to address is the disconnect between USC and the fraternities that disaffiliated from the university in August 2022. Both Stack and Shaw are members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, which disaffiliated from USC.
“We could try to start maybe bridging the gap between the disaffiliated fraternities back to the school so they have a little more overreach by the school,” Shaw said.
Amid the need for change in accessibility, Stack and Shaw embrace their identity as Trojans and hope to spread this philosophy.
“Our lives right now are already so amazing at this university,” Stack said. “We want to highlight that with pride.”