The USC Helenes, known as the ‘official hosts of USC,’ released a response to President Carol Folt’s recent camping exception on social media. After some controversy earlier this week, Folt was willing to let only members of the Helenes and Trojan Knights camp to protect USC statues during rivalry week - a longtime school tradition.
However, the Helenes have taken stand. On Wednesday night, the group announced they won’t be camping out overnight to protect Hecuba, because the Helenes value the open-to-all aspect of this fun tradition. In their statement, they said they said, “the double standard that the University holds has become apparent.” They were referring to the school’s forceful removal of pro-Palestine protestors who stayed on campus overnight this spring.
This is in line with the group’s goal to be involved with the student community and values civil action and social good, but many members of both Helenes and Trojan Knights organizations are saddened that the core traditions of the rivalry week could be altered - or completely disbanded.
Vishu Reddy, a senior studying journalism and minoring in cinematic arts, is the director of university affairs of the Helenes. She supports not guarding the Hecuba statue 24/7 and the rights of student protesters.
“To really be [the] official host, I think you need to be involved with the student community, support your student community,” Reddy said. “But, as as an executive board, we really do hold civil action and social good at the core of our executive board, but also who we all are as individuals.”
Trojan Knights member, Logan Christianson, will still be out guarding - not sleeping - by Tommy Trojan at night this week. She is a senior studying business and international relations, who was also devastated upon first hearing the 80-plus-year tradition was initially banned to non organization members. Christianson values these fun traditions that have become a rite-of-passage and is nervous about alumni reactions.
“I was admittedly quite devastated. I found out in class that some campus officials were upset at us, and in the Helenes as well, because I think we misinterpreted their rule,” Christianson said. “I was just devastated...what are the alumni gonna say about this? This is so unfortunate because I think traditions are a really important part of culture for any, state, country, organization, school, right?”
Christianson said she was threatened by USC security.
“They threatened to suspend all of us if we were out in between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. which is a little bit silly, because I do work on campus at 4 a.m. and I’ve never been threatened with suspension,” Christianson said. “We were a little bit upset by the university’s reaction, especially because the Trojan Knights are the oldest student organization on campus.”