USC Annenberg Media

USC Annenberg Media We provide the USC community with news that matters to them in thoughtful, deliberate, user-friendly

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For years, USC has been boosting retirement payouts to its highest-earning employees in a little-known practice that has...
12/10/2025

For years, USC has been boosting retirement payouts to its highest-earning employees in a little-known practice that has cost at least $10 million over the last three years, an Annenberg Media analysis has found.

The university at large learned about the retirement policy when interim President Beong-Soo Kim announced it was ending in a Nov. 3 email.

Kim said USC would halt a “payroll practice benefitting many of the highest compensated members of our community.” This practice likely had been paying out thousands to Kim in his role as the university’s general counsel since at least 2022.

Using USC’s tax documents, Annenberg Media conducted a detailed analysis of the decades-old practice.

✍️ Reo and Malik Gamble
📸 Jason Goode
📊 Nina Moothedath

On at least four occasions this semester, students have found some unwelcome sources of protein in their dining hall dis...
12/10/2025

On at least four occasions this semester, students have found some unwelcome sources of protein in their dining hall dishes.

Video and photos taken by students, shared with and independently verified by Annenberg Media, show insects resembling maggots and stink bugs in food they had been eating at Everybody’s Kitchen and the USC Village dining hall.

Other videos posted to social media show moldy bread and flies on pieces of lunch meat.

Various California and Los Angeles health codes state that the presence of insects in food warrants between a minor violation and permanent suspensions. But USC’s three dining halls have consistently been rated “A” grades in recent health inspections, except for one inspection in April, where a staff member was observed not changing their gloves between sweeping the ground and cooking scrambled eggs.

Staff denied the allegations during the inspection, and the Department of Public Health took no further actions.

When asked for comment, Assistant Vice President of USC Hospitality Dirk De Jong said they had “refined” their process for washing produce.

“We take food safety seriously and immediately contacted our supplier after learning of the issues,” De Jong said. “We will continue to ensure our numerous safeguards and standards are being met, including frequent daily inspections, to ensure food safety and quality.”

Read more at the link in bio.

✍️ Sophia Ainsworth
📸 Photo of broccoli courtesy of Ilana Jacobson; photo of EVK dining hall courtesy of USC Hospitality

12/08/2025

With finals season underway, Trojans answered a series of quick finals-week preferences. Here’s how they responded.

🎥 Miaofu Tian

USC’s Board of Trustees is made up of 39 voting members. These 39 members come from across the globe — from Los Angeles ...
12/04/2025

USC’s Board of Trustees is made up of 39 voting members. These 39 members come from across the globe — from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Predominantly CEOs, many of these voting members are among the richest people on the planet.

A handful of times each year, they convene to make some of the university’s most influential decisions. Today, many students couldn’t name a single board member.

The board serves as the university’s governing body, overseeing financial management, long-term strategy and the selection of USC’s president. Mainly composed of prominent business leaders, philanthropists and alumni, the board wields significant influence over how the university sets priorities and allocates resources.

✍️ Lindsay Augustine, Milica Samardzic, Tamara Almoayed, Alex von Thaden, Nina Moothedath, Malik Gamble, John Millsap, Omar Mejia, Sasha Ryu, Reo, Malcolm Caminero

📊 Nina Moothedath

12/03/2025

With the holidays coming up, Trojans reflect on the gifts that left a lasting mark. Here’s what stood out in their memories.

🎥 Miaofu Tian

12/02/2025

As the fall semester wraps up, USC freshmen reflect on what they’ve learned from their first months on campus.

🎥 Bryan Nicolas, Kajal Reddy Padi

12/01/2025

With December here, Trojans share what they think makes the perfect holiday gift.

🎥 Melie Hailemeskel, Kajal Reddy Padi

When one USC computer science major thinks about their future in the United States, a nagging worry keeps coming up: “Th...
11/25/2025

When one USC computer science major thinks about their future in the United States, a nagging worry keeps coming up: “There aren’t enough resources to actually help us get to a point of success in our post-grad lives.”

The student is not alone. Interviews this semester with some of USC’s nearly 12,000 international students revealed a common sentiment: International students are navigating an increasingly precarious system, and they don’t feel the university is prepared to guide them through it.

While Warren Wu, a freshman geodesign major from Toronto, said USC made his initial F-1 visa application process “very simple” with clear instructions and steady communication, students closer to graduation say the support fades when they need it most: during the transition into the work force.

A business administration major who requested anonymity out of fear that speaking publicly may jeopardize their future visa or job prospects in the U.S. said that while USC occasionally updates students about major policy changes, communication is inconsistent. They first learned about updated H-1B visa costs through social media – not through the university. The Office of International Services still has not released an update on this change.

“They could be a little more informative on that stuff,” the student said. “I think USC could do a much better job.”

Read more at the link in our bio.

📝 Kendall Howes and Carlotta Escala Boehm
📸 OIS

11/24/2025

Single by choice—or because they’re a Bruin? USC students weigh in on dating across rival lines.

🎥 Rushawnda Russ

11/23/2025

Dorm life comes with plenty of surprises, and a few must-haves students didn’t know they needed. Here’s what these Trojans said are the dorm essentials they wish they had.

🎥 Miaofu Tian

USC hosted an all-women panel discussion honoring Maritza Félix on Thursday. Félix is the founder of Conecta Arizona, a ...
11/21/2025

USC hosted an all-women panel discussion honoring Maritza Félix on Thursday. Félix is the founder of Conecta Arizona, a local media outlet that covers immigration and social issues in Arizona and cross-border populations in Sonora, Mexico.

Felix is also the 2025 awardee of the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Awards. Since 1990, IWMF has supported women and nonbinary journalists who continue to report and tell stories amid the challenges and restrictions.

The other speakers in the panel were Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director of IWMF and Kimbriell Kelly, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and Editor-in-Chief of Chicago Public Media. Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist Jean Guerrero moderated the discussion.

Read more on our website.

✍️ Avidha Raha ()
📸 Avidha Raha

11/20/2025

As fall comes to an end, Trojans reflect on the traditions that define this time of year.

🎥 Miranda Couch

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We keep the USC community current on the news and topics that matter to them the most.

USC Annenberg Media is a student-run news organization at the University of Southern California. From social videos to Snapchat news shows and television broadcasts, our innovative converged newsroom runs on many platforms to keep the USC community informed and connected. Annenberg Media’s platforms provide the USC community with news that matters to them in thoughtful, deliberate, user-friendly formats. Twitter: twitter.com/annenbergmedia Instagram: instagram.com/annenbergmedia Twitch:USC_Annenberg_Media WeChat: @AnnenbergMedia YouTube: youtube.com/annenbergmedia Sports: twitter.com/AnnMediaSports Dímelo (News & media for Latino communities): facebook.com/justdimelo/ Intersections South L.A.: facebook.com/southla