USC Community Gives Back

Message to the USC Community

October 9, 2017

The last six weeks have been a challenging time for many members of our USC community. The hurricane in Puerto Rico left that island devastated. Hurricanes also struck Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. Earthquakes occurred in Mexico. Fires are raging in California. And, of course, the horrific mass shooting that took place in Las Vegas that had ramifications on our campus.

These events have been stressful for ourselves, our families and our loved ones.

Yet at the same time, I am reminded of the best ways that our Trojan Family comes together in crises.  Students formed Aid For Mexico to assist survivors of the earthquakes. Some worked with Los Angeles for Puerto Rico and Students with Puerto Rico to raise money and donate supplies for victims of the hurricane. The VonKeinSmid Center Library hosted a “mapathon” to help put Hurricane Maria victims on maps for responders. The 2018 Min Family Engineering Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, through the USC Viterbi Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship, will be dedicated to developing technologies to aid those affected by such disasters as Hurricane Harvey. These are but a few of the efforts that are taking place on our campuses. Student Affairs is compiling a list of these on its website.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the students, faculty and staff who are doing so much for others in less fortunate situations. We are truly a compassionate community.