A financial reckoning for colleges
Tomo Chien
November 03, 2025
Good morning. It’s Monday, and these are the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
Colleges are facing a financial reckoning after years of big spending on new facilities meant to boost prestige. Exhibit A, according to The Wall Street Journal, is the University of Chicago, whose story draws parallels to USC. “UChicago: Spending Your Tuition On Its Mistakes,” read one flyer made by disgruntled faculty.
2.
In case you missed it: USC’s confirmed layoff count jumped to 974 as the school’s CFO suggested headcount reductions are nearing an end. “I think that for the most part, the layoffs associated with this resilience effort have either taken place or are just about to end,” said CFO Erik Brink.
3.
Sweetgreen will open in the Village tomorrow after welcoming customers for brief “soft launch” hours last week. The location features LA’s first infinite kitchen, a conveyer-belt like machine that builds your meal.
4.
A cottage industry of nail techs is thriving in USC dorms. “When you go to a nail salon, it’s a very chop-chop experience, just not very personalized,” said senior Carissa Lin, who charges $30 for a gel manicure. “We’re all USC students, so it’s very easy to connect in that way.”
5.
Not every hero wore a championship ring in the Dodgers’ dynasty-defining World Series win on Saturday. The LA Times featured the dude who held an iPad over his head so people could keep watching after the bars closed in Echo Park. “This is a huge win for the boys,” he said. “I’m just elated.”
Happy 22nd to Morning, Trojan’s Anna Hsu, the proofreader extraordinaire who rounds out our two-person team.