When it comes to choosing your next read, the old phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” might come to mind. You might say, “Some of the best books may not have great covers!” or alternatively, “Some of my least favorite books have amazing covers.” You would be correct in each of these statements, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use covers as one way to determine if it will be your next read.

On October 31, the 4th floor of the Student Union officially reopened after months of remodeling, providing the numerous cultural centers located there a home once again. Prior to this grand reopening, these groups continued to operate while finalizing the changes, including meeting in various locations within the Student Union and its surrounding USC buildings before the 4th floor space became available to the public. Now, these groups can have a regular, comfortable, and revamped meeting spot.

Now that we’re well into the semester, you’ve likely run into the problem of going to one of the more popular study spots like Leavey or New Annenberg and finding that it’s completely full. Whether you’re stuck on campus between classes or can’t focus in your room, searching for an open seat in these places eats into your study time and leaves you with the worst spots. Next time you’re in this position, consider moving to one of these underrated study spots instead.

In my first year at USC, like many freshmen, I scrolled through the endless list of student orgs and clubs on campus and attended the involvement fair, but I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clubs to choose from and the lack of substantial information about what each club entails. I ultimately found nothing I was interested in joining. It turns out that the best way to gain insight on clubs is to talk to people who’ve attended the meetings and paid the dues.