LGBTQ+ History Month takes place throughout the month of October and has become an integral part of the USC community for more than fifty years. The origins of this celebration date back to 1970, when a group of students and faculty established the Gay Liberation Forum. This initiative aimed to advocate for the rights and recognition of LGBTQ+ individuals. After years of dedicated activism and perseverance, the movement achieved a significant milestone in 1975 when it was officially recognized by the USC Board of Trustees. This acknowledgment marked a pivotal moment in the university’s history, solidifying the importance of LGBTQ+ issues within the campus community.

Latine Heritage Month is a great time for Latines to celebrate their culture, build connections with those of similar backgrounds, and learn about their family history. USC offers many resources to aid Latine USC students in this pursuit of celebration and solidarity–including a Latine student lounge in the Student Union, numerous clubs that highlight the intersection of Latinidad with various interests and fields of study, and a range of events being held between September 15 and October 15. For me, I will be spending this month specifically celebrating the half Puerto Rican side of my heritage. To do so, I will be taking the following steps to celebrate half of Latine heritage month.

Last semester, I started at my first work-study job, and it was exactly what everyone thinks of when they think of work-study; I sat at a front desk and did homework for four hours while occasionally being interrupted to make a photocopy or direct a lost student. This type of job is a great option if you worry about balancing work with school – I certainly was my most productive at work and often felt like I was doubling up on my productivity by basically getting paid to do homework. If you’re looking for a more fun and engaging way to earn your work-study award, however, I highly suggest applying next year to be a cat care assistant at the cat shelter Kitty Bungalow, my much more interesting current work-study position.

As an Asian American, AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) month is a special time of the year for both me and many others in the U.S.

With origins dating back to the late 1970s, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a significant event in American history. To recognize the contributions made by AAPI communities to American society, Congress presented several joint resolutions in 1977 that called for the observance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. This marked the beginning of the journey towards acknowledgment.

This April marks Armenian History Month, a celebration that has been observed nationwide in the U.S. for nearly eight years. Surprisingly, this is the first time USC has officially embraced and celebrated this occasion, despite the university's renowned Armenian Institute, led by the esteemed Dr. Shushan Karapetian, a distinguished scholar in the field whom I've had the privilege of learning from this past semester.

April is Arab American Heritage Month. At USC, this month and the associated events are spearheaded by the The Middle Eastern North African Student Assembly (MENASA). MENASA has planned seven events including an opening ceremony, art exhibit, lamp mosaic workshop, community dinner, henna night, Ma’amoul making night, and an advocacy event. I had the privilege of speaking with USC MENASA and USG’s Advocacy Liaison, Yasmeen ElFarra, who shared more about MENASA’s experience attending, developing, and planning the events during the month.

April is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and to honor and celebrate the many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at USC, here are all the ways you can participate and get involved, including events to go to, communities to support, and books to read!

In high school, my teacher once told me that I was too sensitive for the real world. To this, I told myself that I was a queer person growing up in one of the most conservative areas of California and intended to move to Los Angeles after graduation. Surely I was more than prepared for the world outside my Trump flag ridden, Evangelical upbringing. I thought the ostracization I felt in my hometown would be a thing of the past once I moved to this liberal city and I would experience culture shock in the best way as someone eager for a more diverse and accepting community.

Since its conception in March 1987, Women’s History Month has been a time to celebrate women—of all backgrounds and identities—and their contributions to society. WHM is also a time to empower younger generations of women—the trailblazers of the future.

USC’s new Sustainability Hub marks a significant stride in its commitment to the environment. This multi-use space is designed as a physical embodiment of USC’s “Assignment: Earth” initiative, aimed at cultivating an eco-friendly campus and planet.

I recently visited the First Generation Plus Success Center (FG+SC) to begin this mission. If you’re like me and you are unfamiliar with FG+SC, here’s what I learned during my time there. 

One way USC celebrates diversity and fosters inclusivity is through LGBTQ+ student organizations. Each group serves a unique purpose, ranging from advocacy groups to community-building organizations

Here is a brief overview of the largest LGBTQ+ student organizations available to USC undergraduates: