University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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September 4, 1880 was an impor- tant day in the life of Los Angeles. Between five hundred and a thou- sand people (nearly one-tenth of the city ' s population at that time) came to Agricultural (Exposition) Park to witness the founding of the first ma- jor, permanent institution of higher learning in southern California. De- spite transportation difficulties, the intolerable late summer heat, and a thick layer of dust which had settled everywhere, the ' immense throng, ' as the Los Angeles Daily Herald called the audience, watched the laying of the first cornerstone of the new university. Regarding the site of the event, one viewer noted, standing in the midst of a vast stretch of unoccupied, uncultivated plain covered with a rank growth of wild mustard, the unfinished build- ing was indeed a lonely object to those who saw only the present. mmm. mmt ' ' d ' r..-;] »ymm • 4. r. t ,. . 1 Given its humble beginnings as a school of 53 students in a single wooden building on donated land, that university has traced a tremen- dous academic, cultural, and athlet- ic course for more than a century. What began as a seemingly overam- bitious dream by the Bovard family has now become one of the coun- try ' s major centers of higher educa- tion. And it is the aura of that university, our University of Southern California, that we attempt to reveal in this book. From the sword held in Tommy ' s right hand to the existence of the globe atop the VKC tower to the multitude of trophies which our ath- letes have earned over the decades, our campus is adorned with stories that reflect the image of Southern Cal. From the end of ' reality ' at the Cinema school to the tales of the Bovard gargoyles, our university continually embraces and embel- lishes itself throughout its 105-year history. From the mustard fields of the 1880 ' s to the multitude of build- ings and campus extensions today, use possesses a great deal of heri- tage, tradition, . . . and mystique. by Russ Whismore Photos by Rex Price 5 II nun I iUJ-lil ? - SL Opening 5

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... nol: always as it seems Photo by Greg Dawson 4 Opening

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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