University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook

“Safe? Top: In the midst of college life, one tends to forget about the surrounding community. Right: Once-prominent streets and boulevards have become njn-down and neglected. Bot- tom Left: For some residents of the community, it ' s a struggle to survive. Bottom Right: The Summer Games left memories of a closer-knit community. What goes through your mind when you ' re choosing a school? Ac- ademics, cost, reputation, atmos- phere, and location are probably high on your list, but did you think about the surrounding community? Few students are aware that their li- festyles are affected by the commu- nity, individually and as a whole. In the 1930 ' s, USC was part of a prestigious and wealthy community. The Mid City area was filled with stu- dents walking hand-in-hand through tree-lined parks. Picnics on the soft, mossy grass were an everyday occur- ance. The onset of the depression and the ensuing unemployment that followed caused a steady decline in the area that has continued to the present day. The mansions with their chipped paint and broken porch rails reflect a once-glorious past. The graffiti-co- vered walls and toppled garbage cans depict a community filled with broken dreams and tired hopes. Yet, so much more lies beyond the eyes of despair. Children ' s laughs echo from the streets to fill the air with the promise of a brighter tomorrow. The love and warmth their families provide replaces the absence of material possessions that many people con- sider necessary. The simplest plea- sures in life are the most obvious, but often never seen-family, friends, smiles, hugs, and togetherness. These qualities unite the communi- ty- It is unfortunate that we, as stu- dents, do not realize this. All we no- tice are the sounds of sirens and the flash of helicopter searchlights. The people whom we see cause us to quicken our pace as we walk by. A fear exists within us, but is it caused by what exists or what we perceive? by Lori Spinner and Ruth Ruiz 6 Opening ”