One of the most exciting events of the year for USC and UCLA students this Saturday is the rivalry football game between the two schools. This week leading up to it is called Conquest Week here at USC. The cherished tradition is filled with exciting events and celebrations leading up to the big game, and the USC community comes together for this week of excitement.
One of the highlights of Conquest Week is a health-focused initiative, a blood drive. USC is taking part in the Big Ten-Abbott “We Give Blood Drive.” That’s a national competition to combat the current significant blood shortage in hospitals. Every donation will count towards putting USC at the top of the leader board — and the prize would be $1 million for USC student health initiatives. Tomorrow will also be the last day to participate. There will be a “Drug Take Back Day” activity tomorrow too, during which USC students can discard any medications they no longer need at USC pharmacies
Conquest Week also involves a big concert Thursday from 6-11 p.m. with music, food, and plenty of Trojan spirit. USC will host Max Bennett aka ‘Robbie’ Shapiro from the TV show Victorious who will DJ a set. USC also invited popular alumni artists Jensen McRae and Sam Short to join.
Also, one of USC’s most time-honored traditions continues: students will be protecting our beloved Tommy Trojan and Hecuba, Queen of Troy, from UCLA invaders. The important task of 24-hour-a day-protection for the statues falls to the Helenes and the Trojan Knights, student organizations dedicated to upholding school spirit and safeguarding our campus icons.
During conquest week, they stay by the statues day and night to make sure they aren’t egged or vandalized. But this year is a little different: due to the overnight encampments that occurred earlier this year as students protested Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, rules were put in place to prohibit tents and sleeping overnight on USC’s campus. This year, the Helenes and the Knights will still be guarding the statues, but without their sleeping bags and tents.
“It really like makes us feel like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves and really connected to our school and to this really just fun activity, which is just like, it’s a great time we get to, you know, hang out and, like, get closer and bond, and do something that like makes our school a more spirited place.’’ said by Sandy Cull, vice president of the Trojan Knights
International relations student Logan Christianson also expressed her feeling about the tradition. She said that protecting Tommy and being a Trojan Knight is about fostering a deep connection with USC and its history, and making friendships along the way.
“I think this tradition is a great tradition. It’s lighthearted fun, and in today’s world, there’s a lot of kind of negative, upsetting things happening, so it’s fun to have, like, a very harmless, you know, rivalry, and kind of use that opportunity to spend time with friends,” she said.
Speaking of other activities this year, Christianson says the Knights have many tasks during this special time “because it’s Conquest Week,” she said. “I think it’s only fair we bring up the victory bell. We exchange the victory bell between the winner of the USC-UCLA football game and so obviously, it’s a lot of fun to get that victory bell back from UCLA, sand it down and paint its rightful Cardinal. We’ve got a lot of fun traditions, you know, painting and the student sections for not just football games, but also women’s water polo games.”
Sandy Cull said she likes being part of a years-long tradition.
‘’It’s like the people who, you know, were in Knights before us did the same, and hopefully the people that are in Knights long after we’re gone will do the same,” Cull said.
Conquest Week is not only about sports, but also the spirit and heritage of USC Trojans. Fight on!